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Runcorn and Helsby: Reform and Labour four votes apart as by-election goes to recount Runcorn and Helsby by-election: Reform beats Labour by just six votes
(32 minutes later)
The Runcorn and Helsby by-election has gone to a dramatic recount with just four votes separating Reform UK and Labour. Reform has won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes, beating Labour after a dramatic recount.
Party officials told the BBC the first tally put Nigel Farage's party ahead by a tiny margin, as it seeks its first by-election win. In Sir Keir Starmer's first major electoral test as prime minister, former Conservative councillor Sarah Pochin overturned a 14,696 majority to take the Cheshire seat for Reform.
The vote - Sir Keir Starmer's first major electoral test as prime minister - was triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Mike Amesbury, following his conviction for assault. The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Labour MP Mike Amesbury, following his conviction for assaulting a constituent.
Farage said Labour had asked for a recount but he was "confident" of a Reform victory, which would give them a first big win of the night after Labour held on in a string of mayoral races. Reform's first ever victory in a parliamentary by-election came after Labour held on in a string of mayoral races.
Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf watched the Runcorn countReform UK chairman Zia Yusuf watched the Runcorn count
Runcorn was a safe Labour seat at the last general election, with a big majority of 14,696. Labour requested a recount, after party officials told the BBC the first tally put Nigel Farage's party ahead by just four votes.
Candidates at the count gathered with election officials as bundles of ballot papers were checked. The final result beats the previous record for the closest by-election, which was 57 votes in the 1973 Berwick-upon-Tweed contest.
Earlier, candidates at the count gathered with election officials as bundles of ballot papers were checked.
One party member was seen holding up four fingers to a colleague, before a recount was confirmed.One party member was seen holding up four fingers to a colleague, before a recount was confirmed.
The narrowest by-election result on record is in Berwick-upon-Tweed in 1973, when the Liberals won by only 57 votes. In early results, Labour held the North Tyneside and Doncaster mayoralties by just a few hundred votes.
In early results Labour held the North Tyneside and Doncaster mayoralties by just a few hundred votes.
It also held on in the West of England mayoral contest, with a majority of 5,949, as the Tories were pushed to fourth place behind Reform and the Greens.It also held on in the West of England mayoral contest, with a majority of 5,949, as the Tories were pushed to fourth place behind Reform and the Greens.
Labour saw its share of the vote fall significantly as Reform came a close second in all three races.Labour saw its share of the vote fall significantly as Reform came a close second in all three races.
Reform is still hoping to make further gains in the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral contest, as well as in council elections, where most counting is starting later.Reform is still hoping to make further gains in the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral contest, as well as in council elections, where most counting is starting later.
Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice told the BBC he believed the party's candidate in the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral race, Andrea Jenkyns, had won "by a considerable margin".Reform's deputy leader Richard Tice told the BBC he believed the party's candidate in the Greater Lincolnshire mayoral race, Andrea Jenkyns, had won "by a considerable margin".
The party is also targeting councils including Kent and Lincolnshire, where the Conservatives currently have large majorities, while it is aiming to make gains at the expense of Labour on councils like Doncaster.The party is also targeting councils including Kent and Lincolnshire, where the Conservatives currently have large majorities, while it is aiming to make gains at the expense of Labour on councils like Doncaster.
In the Hull & East Yorkshire mayoral contest, it could be a closely fought race between the Tories, Labour, the Lib Dems and Reform's candidate, former Olympic boxer Luke Campbell.In the Hull & East Yorkshire mayoral contest, it could be a closely fought race between the Tories, Labour, the Lib Dems and Reform's candidate, former Olympic boxer Luke Campbell.
Support for Reform UK has been rising in national polls since last year's general election, when the party secured more than four million votes, coming third behind Labour and the Conservatives.Support for Reform UK has been rising in national polls since last year's general election, when the party secured more than four million votes, coming third behind Labour and the Conservatives.
You can follow all the results and reaction on BBC One and on iPlayer, the News Channel, Sounds and on the BBC live page.You can follow all the results and reaction on BBC One and on iPlayer, the News Channel, Sounds and on the BBC live page.
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