STORY
In a landmark political upset, Reform UK has won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, narrowly defeating Labour by just six votes. This small margin marks the closest by-election result in UK history, overturning Labour’s previous majority of nearly 15,000 votes.
Sarah Pochin, a former Conservative councillor and local magistrate, secured 12,645 votes (38.72%), edging out Labour’s Karen Shore, who garnered 12,639 votes (38.70%). The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Mike Amesbury following a suspended prison sentence for assault. The result followed a dramatic recount after initial counts showed a mere four-vote difference. The final declaration was delayed by three hours due to the recount process.
Nigel Farage, leader of Reform UK, hailed the victory as a “seismic shift” in British politics, stating that the result demonstrates the public’s desire for change. The by-election saw a significant swing of over 20 percentage points from Labour to Reform UK, highlighting growing discontent with the traditional parties. The Conservative Party’s vote share plummeted to 7.17%, down from 16% in the previous general election, narrowly maintaining third place ahead of the Green Party.
Labour leader Keir Starmer faces mounting pressure as internal critics call for a reassessment of the party’s strategy to counter the rising influence of Reform UK. The by-election outcome underscores the volatility of the current political landscape and sets the stage for a potentially transformative general election in 2029.