Result · By-election
Runcorn and Helsby By-Election Result
Reform UK gain from Labour. Sarah Pochin won by 6 votes over Labour's Karen Shore, the closest post-war by-election result. Turnout 46.2%.
Result
Declared 2 May 2025
Reform UK gain from Labour · Sarah Pochin wins
Turnout 46.2%
Majority 6 (0.02%)
Majority 6 (0.02%)
Sarah Pochin (Reform UK)
38.7%
12,645
Karen Shore (Labour)
38.7%
12,639
Sean Houlston (Conservative)
7.2%
2,341
Chris Copeman (Green)
7.1%
2,314
Paul Duffy (Lib Dem)
2.9%
942
Others (10 candidates)
5.4%
1,774
Top five candidates shown; the remaining ten are grouped as Others. Source: official declaration, 2 May 2025.
Change vs 2024 General Election
A 17.4-point Labour-to-Reform swing. Reform UK's vote share rose 20.6 points and Labour's fell 14.2; the Conservatives fell 8.8. At the 2024 General Election Labour held the seat with a 14,696-vote (34.8pp) majority.
| Party | 2024 GE | Result | Change |
|---|---|---|---|
| Reform UK | 18.1% | 38.7% | +20.6 |
| Labour | 52.9% | 38.7% | -14.2 |
| Conservative | 16.0% | 7.2% | -8.8 |
| Green | 6.4% | 7.1% | +0.7 |
| Liberal Democrats | 5.1% | 2.9% | -2.2 |
Background
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Mike Amesbury (Labour) on 17 March 2025, following his conviction for assault.
Labour had won Runcorn and Helsby at the 2024 General Election with 52.9% and a majority of 14,696; Reform UK was second on 18.1%. The six-vote result overturned that majority and was Reform UK's first parliamentary by-election gain.