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Reform beats Labour by six votes in Runcorn vote as party gains first mayor

02 May 2025 6 minute read
Reform UK candidate Dame Andrea Jenkyns pushes away a journalist’s microphone whilst speaking to the media after winning the election for Greater Lincolnshire Mayor, at Grimsby Town Hall. Photo Joe Giddens/PA Wire

Nigel Farage’s Reform UK has secured victory by six votes over Labour in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election as a former Tory minister became the party’s first elected mayor.

In one of the closest parliamentary contests ever, new MP Sarah Pochin took the seat which Labour won with a majority of almost 14,700 less than a year ago.

The result came as Reform made gains against both Labour and the Conservatives across England in local votes, with Mr Farage claiming a “big moment” was taking place in UK politics.

Former Conservative minister Dame Andrea Jenkyns was elected for Reform UK as the first Greater Lincolnshire mayor with a majority of almost 40,000 over her former party.

Staffordshire County Council

Meanwhile, the party looks set to gain control of Staffordshire County Council after taking 24 of the 30 seats to be counted overnight, with the Conservatives winning the other six.

It means when counting resumes later on Friday, the party needs to win just eight more seats to have a majority on the council.

The Runcorn and Helsby by-election ran alongside local elections across England, having been triggered when former Labour MP Mike Amesbury quit after admitting punching a constituent.

Amesbury won 53% of the vote at the general election – and the defeat, along with Reform gains in other Labour heartlands, will cause unease in Downing Street.

Mr Farage said: “For the movement, for the party, it’s a very, very big moment indeed, absolutely, no question, and it’s happening right across England.”

He said it was a sign that Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer had “alienated so much of his traditional base, it’s just extraordinary”.

Reform’s victory by just six votes set a new record for the smallest majority at a parliamentary by-election since the end of the Second World War.

Recount

The Runcorn declaration was delayed as the close nature of the contest led to a recount, with Mr Farage forced to wait before arriving at the count centre in Widnes for his moment of triumph.

In her speech after winning the seat, Ms Pochin said voters had made clear “enough is enough”.

“Enough Tory failure, enough Labour lies,” she said.

Labour said by-elections are “always difficult for the party in government” and the events surrounding the Runcorn and Helsby vote made it “even harder”.

Party chairwoman Ellie Reeves acknowledged voters were “impatient” but insisted “change takes time”.

She suggested Reform would face greater scrutiny after its electoral gains.

“There’s been a lot of noise from Reform, a lot of hype from Reform, but actually people will now, I think, take a closer look at some of their policies,” Ms Reeves told Sky News.

“We had 14 years of chaos under the Conservatives. Public services and the public finances were left in a state,” she told Times Radio.

“We’ve had to stabilise the economy, but we’re starting that work. We’ve got our Plan for Change, we’re beginning to see the results of this, but we know we need to go further and faster.”

Winter fuel allowance

However, Doncaster’s Labour mayor Ros Jones – who was re-elected with a majority of 698 after a battle with Reform – hit out at the Prime Minister’s administration.

She criticised decisions to means-test the winter fuel allowance, hike employers’ national insurance contributions and squeeze welfare.

Ms Jones told the BBC: “I think the results here tonight will demonstrate that they need to be listening to the man, woman and businesses on the street, and actually deliver for the people, with the people.”

As well as the Runcorn by-election, voters on Thursday took part in contests to elect more than 1,600 councillors across 23 local authorities, along with four regional mayors and two local mayors.

In a speech after winning the race in Greater Lincolnshire, during which her rivals walked offstage, Dame Andrea said there would be “an end to soft-touch Britain” after Reform UK’s gains in the polls.

“The fight back to save the heart and soul of our great country has now begun,” she said.

She claimed the campaign “was also filled with irony as one of the candidates stated I was parachuted in, she said in her South African accent.”

Tents

Dame Andrea, who defected to Reform after losing her parliamentary seat in last year’s general election, also appeared to suggest that migrants crossing the Channel should be housed in tents rather than hotels.

“Tents are good enough for France, they should be good enough for here in Britain,” the new mayor said.

Asked later whether she thought those remarks indicated a divisive way of conducting politics, she said: “I think it’s what the silent majority think.”

Pressed on whether she believed asylum seekers should be put in tents, she said “genuine asylum seekers like Ukraine et cetera” were “a different matter”.

Asked whether she thought people with certain accents could not be from Lincolnshire, she said: “I think actually I’m not going to answer any more of your questions.

“I think that your questioning is quite divisive, you’re looking into things when it was a little play with words, it was a little joke because of the irony. Do you not understand irony?”

There was some good news for Labour as the party held the West of England mayoralty, with Helen Godwin beating Reform’s Arron Banks by 5,945 votes, with the Green Party’s Mary Page in third.

The party held the North Tyneside mayoralty, although with a majority of just 444 ahead of Reform in second place.

The Tories said the change Sir Keir delivered had been “roundly rejected” and Labour MPs will “rightfully question his leadership” after Reform’s by-election win.

A Conservative Party spokesman said: “Now we know why Keir Starmer never bothered to visit the area.”

The Tories, in Kemi Badenoch’s first electoral test as leader, were also suffering at the hands of Reform and could also be squeezed by the Liberal Democrats.

Conservative frontbencher Helen Whately told the BBC’s Newsnight programme: “We’re going to get a real battering in these elections.”

Shadow communities secretary Kevin Hollinrake acknowledged the party was on course to lose around 500 councillors.

He told the BBC: “We thought we’d lose half our seats.”

If it was worse, “that would be very disappointing”, Mr Hollinrake added.

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey said: “We are expecting to see big gains against the Conservatives in their former Middle England heartlands.”

The Green Party was also hoping for success in local contests, with co-leader Carla Denyer saying: “We are taking seats from both the Conservatives and Labour up and down the country as voters, understandably, move away from the tired old parties that have let us all down.”


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Jeff
Jeff
10 days ago

Quite a thing. The ex MP that was part of a government that wrecked the UK now saying she can fix what she was part of. And really going to see what nasty party reform is with Jenkyns. Remember she gave the finger to people doing a silent protest at covid deaths of loved ones. That is what she is, that is what she thinks of decent people. And climate change cuts? Is she aware of the nature of a lot of Lincolnshire? I hear she is advocating a “doge” in her neck of the woods. That is not going… Read more »

John Ellis
John Ellis
10 days ago
Reply to  Jeff

And climate change cuts? Is she aware of the nature of a lot of Lincolnshire?’

Indeed! Ironic that a significant chunk of the south of Lincolnshire was for centuries marshland, with the habitable bits confined to scattered ‘islands’ of higher ground.

Rising sea levels would trigger a re-run of all that.

Jeff
Jeff
10 days ago
Reply to  John Ellis

It sounds Trump 101. This what you get with reform. And the US is sinking fast (ironic comment).

Johnny
Johnny
10 days ago
Reply to  John Ellis

Rising Sea levels! If that was the case The Netherlands would have been underwater by now.

John Ellis
John Ellis
9 days ago
Reply to  Johnny

It’s the future that bothers me, not the present or the past.

Johnny
Johnny
10 days ago
Reply to  Jeff

That’s democracy for you Jeffrey.What good has Labour Donkey voting ever done for Wales.

Jeff
Jeff
10 days ago
Reply to  Johnny

Hows brexit doing.
Farage in a nutshell.

Llyn
Llyn
10 days ago

So in Runcorn once again the Green Party vote helped Reform over line. In the West of England mayoral vote the Greens came a distant third when they were expected to win. The Greens will make a lot of noise in the run up to the Senedd election and win at best 1 seat. Plaid either have to come to some arrangement with the Greens for 2026 or message that a vote the Greens is a vote for Reform.

Gerallt Llewelyn Rhys.
Gerallt Llewelyn Rhys.
10 days ago
Reply to  Llyn

Or the Greens might say a vote for Plaid is a vote for Reform.

Ian Michael Williams
Ian Michael Williams
10 days ago

Exactly!!!

Llyn
Llyn
10 days ago

Ian and Gerald – Greens are on 5% in opinion polls when they will need 12-14% to get a seat in a constituency; Plaid and Labour are in mid 20s in polls; Greens have always underachieved in Assembly/Senedd votes. So you can either vote Green and feel good about your vote until we have a Reform lead climate change denying far-right Welsh Government or you vote Plaid or Labour and get a progressive left of centre government who will tackle climate change.

Drew Anderson
Drew Anderson
9 days ago
Reply to  Llyn

There were 15 candidates; is it only the votes of the party that comes 4th that are to blame? Is it always the Greens’ fault, wherever they place?
.
What about the 54% that didn’t vote?

Brian Coman
Brian Coman
10 days ago

Look out Wales next May , Labours contempt for people’s views over the speed limits, farmers concerns, and worsening NHS lists, homelessness and poverty. Spending money on things like pointless bike lanes and other wasted projects will definitely change things whatever their excuses are.This will be of their own making over promises ignored.

Jeff
Jeff
10 days ago
Reply to  Brian Coman

Nothing wrong with the speed limits (a gamed on line poll by the usual suspects) but if reform get power and rescind it then they show they don’t care for people lives. Not that farage does, he only cares about himself and far right policies. NHS is complicated and I seriously doubt ANY party can fix it with the systems and funds in place. Of course farage would sell it off, so in his mind he will have fixed it. Bike lanes are excellent and a good thing by any measure. But the implementation is disjointed. They need to take… Read more »

Llyn
Llyn
10 days ago
Reply to  Brian Coman

Brian please can you point me to the Reform UK policies that will make things better?

Brian Coman
Brian Coman
10 days ago
Reply to  Llyn

I don’t vote Reform and never will.
But look at Labours 26 years in power in Wales. Terrible education standards, highest waiting lists in the UK, 33% of childen in poverty, highest in the UK, homelessness is going up every month.
Millions spent on a bigger Senedd, with six AS’s for every new constituency, why? The equivalent in London would be 2,500 MP’s.
See what happens next May and all the excuses between now and then.

Hal
Hal
10 days ago
Reply to  Brian Coman

The bike lanes were Boris Johnson’s idea to level up the UK and I bet you voted for him.

Brian Coman
Brian Coman
10 days ago
Reply to  Hal

Wrong, never or ever voted Tory or Reform or Liberal Democrat.
never assume anything.I was just commenting on what might happen in the future, it used to be called a point of view !
Life time cyclist , the empty bike lanes are for all to see .

Hal
Hal
9 days ago
Reply to  Brian Coman

Then you should blame Nigel who gave us Brexit which gave us Boris who gave us bike lanes galore to make us all richer because that’s what 52% knew they were voting for.

Bert
Bert
10 days ago

Of course, with STV Labour would’ve picked up the Green second preferences and sealed the deal.

Ernie The Smallholder
Ernie The Smallholder
10 days ago

Labour has only themselves to blame. Their withdrawal of winter fuel allowance and decisions to hike employers’ national insurance contributions and squeeze welfare has been a disaster to the economy. This does not just affect the very poorest but pensions of working and middle class people. Remember, more people going to foodbanks is less money to commercial shops, less trade allround, profit warnings, falling share prices value resulting the value of your private pension investments falling. The whole idea of austerity is schlecht. The wealth of a nation’s doesn’t work the same way as a family’s budget. For a nation,… Read more »

Hal
Hal
10 days ago

Scary thought. Maybe all former empires have to go through a period of facism to move beyond their imperial past. When even central government welcomes airport arrivals with passive aggressive “Britain Is Great” posters you know there is work to do.

Ap Kenneth
Ap Kenneth
10 days ago

“The Runcorn declaration was delayed as the close nature of the contest led to a recount, with Mr Farage forced to wait before arriving at the count centre in Widnes for his moment of triumph.”
It is not a political party with policies and ideas it is a personality cult.

Y Cymro
Y Cymro
10 days ago

Be careful what you wish for. Sure, vote for Reform UK if you want, more the fool you, but remember these are extreme Conservatives who are aping what Trump’s MAGA movement word for word. And we all the disaster that is. The film Idiocracy comes to mind. I suggest all watch it. Frightening similar to today’s America under Trump. In a way I’m happy that arrogant UK Labour had a bloody nose but frustrated voters haven’t learned one iota from their past mistakes. The positive I can take from this madness is that now Reform UK will be scrutinised properly… Read more »

NOT Grayham Jones
NOT Grayham Jones
10 days ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

We have had 20 years of Labour/Plaid rule in Wales and the results are not good. You say Reform will be a disaster- you may be right however most people regard Labour/Plaid as a disaster-( obviously not you!) so most will vote Reform next May including me.

Garycymru
Garycymru
10 days ago

Only the thick people with a victim mindset. Not most.
Fascism has zero place in Wales, and neither does its supporters.

Ian Michael Williams
Ian Michael Williams
10 days ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

Oh dear!!!

Jeff
Jeff
10 days ago
Reply to  Y Cymro

Good luck with the press scrutinising farage. I do not see anyone doing that apart from a few that nige made the mistake of seeing. He is selective and unless you have the goods to drop in his lap right away, he walks away. Trump does the same. Wonder who advises……. BBC washed up, no point relying on that station, even in Wales, ITV and CH4 are better at it. But they need to get nasty. Hold his feet to the fire. Print press, well, mail and times and telegraph wont, mirror maybe. The problem is they are good online… Read more »

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