Margaret Thatcher had a phrase she often repeated when challenged on her strident adherence to her unapologetically right-wing economic principles. “There is no alternative,” the former Conservative prime minister would say to those who pointed out the social unrest and industrial devastation her policies were causing.

The dire by-election result came as Reform made gains against both Labour and the Conservatives across England.

The Labour chairwoman was asked if Sir Keir Starmer failed to take the by-election in Cheshire seriously enough