Polls have closed in the Westminster by-election in Runcorn and Helsby on the same day as local elections in parts of England.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Mike Amesbury, who was convicted earlier this year of assaulting a constituent.
What’s the background?
On 27 February, Amesbury was given a 10-week prison sentence and taken straight to HMP Altcourse in Liverpool.
After three nights behind bars, a judge agreed to suspend Amesbury’s jail term for two years.
Under concerted pressure to quit the House of Commons, Amesbury – who lost the Labour whip after he was arrested last autumn and has since been sitting as an independent MP – agreed to stand down.
What is the make-up of Runcorn and Helsby?
Runcorn and Helsby is a new constituency that was only created in time for the general election in July 2024.
More than half of it (51.2%) came from the former constituency of Weaver Vale, with 37.1% from Halton and the remainder from three other former constituencies – Ellesmere Port and Neston, Eddisbury, and City of Chester.
Runcorn and Helsby includes the towns of Runcorn, Frodsham and Helsby, as well as various villages and a significant rural area.
In total, 22% of the constituency is classed as a built-up area, 60% rural and 14% as water or wetland.
It has a population of 93,520, with 21% of residents under 18, 57% aged 18-64 and 21% over 65.
What is the electoral history of the constituency?
Runcorn and Helsby is a new constituency that was only created in time for the general election in July 2024.
More than half of it (51.2%) came from the former constituency of Weaver Vale, with 37.1% from Halton and the remainder from three other former constituencies – Ellesmere Port and Neston, Eddisbury, and City of Chester.
At the 2024 general election, Amesbury won Runcorn and Helsby for Labour with 52.9% of the vote, a majority of 14,696.
Reform UK came second with 18% of the vote, ahead of the Conservatives on 16%, the Green Party with 6.4%, and the Liberal Democrats with 5.1%.
Two smaller parties received 1.4% between them.
Amesbury was the Labour MP for Weaver Vale from June 2017 until the seat was abolished before the general election.
He gained the seat from Conservative Graham Evans, who had been the constituency’s MP since 2010.
Meanwhile, from its creation in 1983, Halton was always held by Labour.
Derek Twigg – who is now the MP for Widnes and Halewood – held it from 1997.
Why is this by-election so important?
This will be Sir Keir Starmer’s first by-election as prime minister.
A lot has happened in the nine months since Labour swept to power, with several tax rises announced in the Budget, and ongoing negotiations with President Trump about world trade and the war in Ukraine.
University of Liverpool Professor Jon Tonge recently told BBC Politics North West that, as one of the safest Labour seats in the country, it would be “quite some feat” if another party were to take Runcorn and Helsby.
If recent opinion polls are anything to go by, though, Reform UK may well be confident heading into the by-election, not least because they came second there in July.
The Conservatives will be hoping for signs of a recovery too. They came third in Runcorn and Helsby last time around, and they were not far behind Reform.
There is a lot at stake for everyone.
Who are the candidates?
A total of 15 candidates are standing in the by-election.
Listed alphabetically, they are as follows:
- Catherine Anne Blaiklock (English Democrats)
- Dan Clarke (Liberal Party)
- Chris Copeman (Green Party)
- Paul Duffy (Liberal Democrats)
- Peter Ford (Workers Party)
- Howling Laud Hope (Monster Raving Loony Party)
- Sean Houlston (Conservatives)
- Jason Philip Hughes (Volt UK)
- Alan McKie (independent)
- Graham Harry Moore (English Constitution Party)
- Paul Andrew Murphy (Social Democratic Party)
- Sarah Pochin (Reform)
- Karen Shore (Labour)
- John Stevens (Rejoin EU)
- Michael Williams (independent)
