Farage’s Reform UK wins parliament seat by 6 votes in blow to Starmer

Published: 2:28pm, 2 May 2025Updated: 2:34pm, 2 May 2025

Hard-right upstarts Reform UK snatched a parliamentary seat from Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s Labour Party on Friday in local elections that dealt a blow to Britain’s two establishment parties.

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Reform, led by anti-immigrant firebrand Nigel Farage, won the by-election in Runcorn and Helsby in northwest England by just six votes, as it picked up gains in other localities.

The group’s strong showing continues momentum it built up at last year’s general election and appeared to confirm a trend that the UK was entering an era of multiparty politics.

“For the movement, for the party it’s a very, very big moment indeed,” Brexit champion Farage said of Reform’s first-ever by-election win and Starmer’s first electoral loss since he took office last July.

Votes being counted for the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty. Photo: PA via AP
Votes being counted for the Greater Lincolnshire mayoralty. Photo: PA via AP

Reform also picked up dozens of council seats from both Labour and the Conservatives as Britain’s political landscape showed signs of splintering.

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