Le Pen vows 'to create new political force'

Defeated French presidential candidate Marine Le Pen appears to have taken even her political allies by surprise by announcing a 'profound reform' of the Front National which - she said - would create 'a new political force'.

In a speech to supporters, in which she publicly conceded the race to president-elect Macron, Mme Le Pen - who temporarily stepped down as leader of the far-right party to concentrate on her presidential campaign - said that she would 'lead the fight' in next month's parliamentary elections. She told the crowd at her campaign headquarters at Chateau du Lac: "Our patriotic and republican alliance will be the primary force of opposition to the programme of the new president."

She hailed the historic result, saying it meant that she represents the country's 'biggest opposition force'.

It is expected that the final count will show she more than doubled the number of votes her father Jean-Marie Le Pen picked up in the second round of the 2002 election.