Reform UK has won a dramatic by-election victory in Runcorn and Helsby, narrowly beating Labour by just six votes. The win is being celebrated by party leader Nigel Farage, who credited public frustration over migration for the upset. This defeat is a major blow for Prime Minister Keir Starmer, especially as Labour had previously held the seat with a massive majority of nearly 14,700 votes.
Sarah Pochin, the newly elected MP, now becomes the fifth Reform UK member in Parliament. The result, finalized after a recount, signals growing support for the party’s anti-migrant platform. Nigel Farage described it as a turning point in British politics, claiming that the public has lost confidence in both Labour and the Conservatives.
Farage attributed the party’s success to public outrage over immigration, pointing to the presence of 750 young male migrants in the constituency. He claimed their presence has created alarm among residents and reflected a deeper resentment that has taken hold across the country. He also slammed both main parties for being out of touch with ordinary Britons.
He said: “Why should I pay my taxes for people who illegally come into Britain and get free health care, GP and dental appointments, and even full accommodation? This isn’t fair, and people are waking up to it.”
Former Tory MP Andrea Jenkyns, now elected as the Reform UK mayor for Greater Lincolnshire with a huge 40,000 majority, echoed Farage’s tough talk. She stated the party aims to return Britain to its “glorious past” by taking firm action on illegal immigration. “No more hotels,” she said. “If tents are good enough for France, they’re good enough for us.”
The by-election was triggered after Labour’s Mike Amesbury resigned following an incident where he admitted to punching a constituent. Despite Labour’s strong showing in the general election, this loss and other local defeats are expected to worry officials in Downing Street.
A Labour spokesperson admitted that public dissatisfaction remains high, saying: “Voters are still rightly furious with the state of the country after 14 years of failure.”
The Conservatives also took a shot at Starmer, calling the result “a damning verdict on his leadership.”
Polling expert Sir John Curtice described Reform’s win as a sign that the party is now “a major challenge” in UK politics, no longer just a protest movement.
In the wider local elections, over 1,600 council seats were contested across 23 authorities, along with four regional mayor races. Early signs suggest Reform UK is gaining ground, while the Liberal Democrats and Greens also aim to take advantage of falling support for the two main parties.
Starmer insisted that Labour is still focused on delivering change but acknowledged the elections were challenging. Labour chairwoman Ellie Reeves said many of the areas voting were Conservative-dominated for years, and change takes time.
Meanwhile, new Conservative leader Kemi Badenoch is facing her first electoral test. Reform and the Lib Dems are expected to cause significant losses for the Tories as the results continue to roll in.