Reform UK and Labour separated by just four votes in a tense recount in a once-safe Labour stronghold

The Runcorn and Helsby by-election has descended into high drama, with just four votes separating Reform UK and Labour after the initial count, prompting an urgent recount that could deliver Nigel Farage’s party its first by-election victory.

Party officials revealed that the first tally placed Reform narrowly ahead in the formerly safe Labour seat, marking a seismic political moment in what has become Sir Keir Starmer’s first major electoral test as prime minister. The contest was triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Mike Amesbury, who stepped down following his conviction for assault.

Speaking to reporters, Reform leader Nigel Farage said Labour had called for a recount but insisted he was “confident” of securing a historic win. A victory would hand Reform UK a major breakthrough, after Labour successfully defended a series of mayoral posts elsewhere in the country.

At the count, tension crackled through the air as candidates, party staffers, and election officials pored over bundles of ballot papers. One Reform member was seen holding up four fingers to a colleague just moments before the recount was confirmed.

Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf, a key architect of the party’s post-election surge, stood close to the count tables, overseeing proceedings with steely focus. Having built the party’s organisational strength since the 2024 general election, Yusuf’s presence underscored the importance of the night.

Runcorn had been a Labour stronghold, with Mike Amesbury winning a majority of 14,696 in the last general election. The prospect of losing it—even by a whisker—would be a humiliating blow for Starmer’s leadership.

If confirmed, the result would go down among the narrowest in British by-election history. The record remains with Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1973, where the Liberals won by 57 votes—but a four-vote gap would set a new benchmark for tight contests.

Elsewhere, Labour managed to cling onto the mayoralties of North Tyneside, Doncaster, and the West of England, though with sharply reduced majorities. In Doncaster and North Tyneside, Labour’s victories came by mere hundreds of votes, while in the West of England they held on by 5,949 as the Conservatives slipped to fourth place, trailing both Reform and the Greens.

Across the board, Reform UK surged to second place in key mayoral contests, eating into Labour’s working-class vote and displacing the Conservatives.

Reform’s deputy leader Richard Tice said he believed the party would secure further gains in the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral race, with their candidate Andrea Jenkyns poised for what he called a “considerable margin” of victory.

The momentum extends to council elections too, where counting is still underway. Reform is targeting traditional Tory strongholds like Kent and Lincolnshire, as well as Labour councils such as Doncaster, aiming to drive a wedge into both major parties’ bases.

In the Hull & East Yorkshire mayoral battle, a four-way scrap is unfolding between Labour, the Conservatives, the Liberal Democrats, and Reform’s candidate, former Olympic boxer Luke Campbell, as the party’s reach grows in areas once thought out of bounds.

Support for Reform UK has been rising steadily in national polls since the 2024 general election. After securing over four million votes last year and finishing third behind Labour and the Conservatives, the party has capitalised on public dissatisfaction with mainstream parties.

As Runcorn’s recount continues into the early hours, the political establishment waits with bated breath. A Reform win here would not only hand Farage and Yusuf a major triumph, but it could also shake the foundations of British politics.

TEH GUARDIAN

Reform UK has won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes, securing its first ever seat in Westminster in a major blow to Labour. The dramatic gain followed a full recount and signals rising momentum for Nigel Farage’s party. Despite this, Labour narrowly retained key mayoral contests in Doncaster and North Tyneside. In North Tyneside, Karen Clark (Labour) beat Reform’s John Falkenstein by only 444 votes. In Doncaster, incumbent mayor Ros Jones survived a strong challenge from Reform’s Alex Jones, a young forex trader and model.

Reform deputy leader Richard Tice called the results evidence of a “seismic shift” in British politics. He predicted Reform would win the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty with Dame Andrea Jenkyns and perform strongly in county council races. With voters turning away from the main parties, Reform’s rise continues to unsettle both Labour and Conservatives. The outcome hints at growing dissatisfaction with Keir Starmer’s leadership just nine months into his premiership, amid local election turbulence.

THE TELEGRAPH

Reform UK secured a dramatic by-election victory in Runcorn and Helsby, defeating Labour by just six votes in a major blow to Keir Starmer. Sarah Pochin won 12,645 votes to Labour’s 12,639, taking the seat after a recount. The by-election was triggered by the conviction of Labour’s former MP. Pochin declared it a rejection of “Tory failure” and “Labour lies”, while Nigel Farage hailed the result as proof that Reform is now the real opposition. Farage warned that voting Conservative now simply leads to Labour wins. The Tories came a distant third with 2,341 votes. Pollster Keiran Pedley said Reform now “look like the real deal”, while Prof John Curtice called the win a “major challenge” to both Labour and the Conservatives. Labour narrowly held mayoral contests in Doncaster, North Tyneside and the West of England, but suffered heavy swings to Reform. Meanwhile, Reform appears set to win the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty and make widespread gains across councils in England.