Skip to main content
Labour MPs urge Starmer to change course after Reform takes Runcorn safe seat
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and actor Ross Kemp join the national phone bank at the Labour Party headquarters in central London, during campaigning for tomorrow's local elections, April 30, 2025

LABOUR MPs, trade unions and campaigners called on the government to urgently change course today after Reform UK overturned the party’s majority of 15,000 to win the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by six votes for its candidate, former Conservative councillor Sarah Pochin. 

Thursday’s local elections saw the far-right party also take their first mayoralty in Greater Lincolnshire for ex-Tory MP and minister Andrea Jenkyns, and come close seconds to Labour in three other mayoral races, as well as taking hundreds of council seats from the Tories and winning control of many councils.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responded to the losses by saying ”I get it,” and pledged to go ”further and faster” in changing Britain.

Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Britain / 17 April 2025
17 April 2025
By Berny Torre in Harrogate
NEU general secretary Daniel Kebede
Britain / 17 April 2025
17 April 2025
By Berny Torre in Harrogate
NEU Conference 2025 / 17 April 2025
17 April 2025
Similar stories
Reform UK leader Nigel Farage stands with Sarah Pochin after announcing her as Reform UK's candidate for the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, at the Runcorn Shopping City in Runcorn, Cheshire, March 24, 2025
Britain / 29 April 2025
29 April 2025