Reform has won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election from Labour by just six votes, overturning a majority of 14,700 and triggering a political earthquake that threatens to shatter the hegemony of Labour and the Tories. The Mail has more.
Nigel Farage triggered a political earthquake today as Reform seized Runcorn & Helsby from Labour by just six votes in a dramatic by-election.
A jubilant Mr Farage hailed a “big moment” after nailbiting recounts in the Cheshire seat, with local elections seeing the insurgents rack up huge gains across England and spark panic in the two main parties.
It was the narrowest by-election win in modern British history, with Labour immediately descending into brutal recriminations over the loss of the stronghold.
Watched by Mr Farage, victorious candidate Sarah Pochin said the public was sending a message that “enough is enough”. “Enough Tory failure, enough Labour lies,” she said.
As results from yesterday’s contests flowed in, Reform’s Dame Andrea Jenkyns romped home as the first Greater Lincolnshire mayor with an enormous 40,000 majority over the Tories.
The party is also on track to control the county council, as its national poll surge is translated into real votes and real power.
Earlier, Reform only narrowly missed out on having a mayor in North Tyneside, cutting a Labour majority of almost 14,000 down to just 444.
It was a similar story in Doncaster, where Labour’s Ros Jones closed out Mr Farage’s party by just 698 votes. The Tories were in third, with the Right-wing parties together taking 57% of the vote.
Ms Jones launched an extraordinary tirade at Sir Keir after the announcement, berating him for not “listening” to unrest over cuts to winter fuel allowance and the national insurance hike.
MPs quickly joined the demands for a change in direction from the premier.
Reform were also a shock second in the West of England, where Labour held the mayoralty in what was meant to be a two-horse race between them and the Greens.
In the coming hours Mr Farage’s outfit is expected to take hundreds of council seats surrendered by the Tories. The areas up for grabs are traditionally true-blue and were last decided at Boris Johnson’s peak in 2021.
On a momentous day for British politics:
- There is speculation the Tories and Reform could form a coalition in Northumberland after they won 26 and 23 seats on the council respectively from the 69 total;
- Polling guru Professor John Curtice suggested the two-party era was over after the first 124 wards gave Reform a vote share of 38%, the Conservatives 28% and Labour 18%;
- Mr Farage branded Sir Keir a “coward” for not campaigning in Runcorn, as Ministers admitted the public is “impatient” with the Government;
- The Reform leader said the party would end WFH in councils and introduce US-style ‘DOGE’ departments;
- Labour sources are concerned about the party’s Durham heartlands, with fears Reform could even end up in control of the council.
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