Leaked WhatsApp messages reveal Reform UK has ordered its northern activists to abandon their high-stakes Manchester mayoral campaign to travel 250 miles and rescue Nigel Farage's chaotic Clacton by-election. 📊🚗👇

Reform activists urged to switch focus from Manchester to Farage’s Clacton contestExclusive: Party hoped to mount serious challenge in mayoral race but attention has been diverted to Essexwww.theguardian.com