Reform UK has won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes, beating Labour after a dramatic recount. 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.

After a confusing few hours, it was confirmed that just four votes were separating the two parties, with a full recount announced - meaning every vote was counted again. Eventually it was confirmed that Reform candidate Sarah Pochin had defeated Labour's Karen Shore by just six votes.

Nigel Farage’s right-wing populist party snatched a critical parliamentary seat from the governing Labour Party.