Nigel Farage's Reform wins Runcorn by-election in major upset for Keir Starmer

Keir Starmer has suffered a loss to Nigel Farage’s party in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.

In a major upset for the PM’s party, Reform’s Sarah Pochin stole the strong-hold, winning 12,645 votes. She beat Labour’s candidate Karen Shore by a mere 6 votes, who came second with 12,639 votes. Ms Pochin will become Reform UK’s fifth and first female MP in Parliament.

The lead up to the result saw dramatic scenes, with officials repeatedly checking ballot papers. A full recount was launched at around 4am after the first count was said to put Reform UK ahead of by just four votes. The painstakingly close race proved Reform UK's threat in the traditionally Labour stronghold.

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The Runcorn by-election was triggered when in a late-night brawl on the street. The former MP was handed a 10-week prison sentence, which was suspended for two years on appeal, after admitting assault by beating.

Amesbury won the seat for Labour at the with a 14,696 majority - one of the 50 largest Labour majorities - but was suspended by the party after the incident. Nigel Farage's party came second with 7,662 votes, followed by the Tories on 6,756 votes.

After the result, a spokesman said: “By-elections are always difficult for the party in government and the events which led to this one being called made it even harder. Voters are still rightly furious with the state of the country after 14 years of failure and clearly expect the Government to move faster with the Plan for Change.

“While Labour has suffered an extremely narrow defeat, the shock is that the Conservative vote has collapsed. Moderate voters are clearly appalled by the talk of a Tory-Reform pact."

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Speaking on the stage after her win, Ms Pochin said the people of Runcorn have spoken: "Enough is enough. Enough Tory failure, enough Labour lies. And I want to thank every one of you who were brave enough to put a cross against my name on the ballot paper.

"Every one of you who voted for change, every one of you who have put their faith in me as your next Member of Parliament for this constituency which has such potential and who have put their faith in as the next Prime Minister of this great country, it will be an honour and a privilege to serve this community, a community of hard-working people who just want fairness."

Ms Pochin, who used to be a magistrate and former Tory councillor, came under fire during the campaign after it emerged she told a drinkduring her time as a magistrate.

Elsewhere, during the race, it emerged she was found to . In 2018, Ms Pochin was found to have used her status as a magistrate to try to influence her colleagues' political views in 2018. The Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) also found she breached confidentiality by publicising the complaint made against her.

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