Overview
- Reform UK, led by Nigel Farage, won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by a record-low margin of six votes, unseating Labour in a former stronghold.
- This marks the first electoral test since Labour's July 2024 general election win, highlighting dissatisfaction with the party’s governance under Prime Minister Keir Starmer.
- The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Mike Amesbury, following his conviction for assault and a suspended prison sentence.
- Reform UK now holds five seats in the 650-member House of Commons and has made additional gains in concurrent local elections, including dozens of council seats and a mayoralty.
- The results underscore the growing fragmentation of UK politics, with Nigel Farage declaring Reform UK the new opposition to Labour and traditional parties facing waning public trust.