The Reform party has won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election. It was announced this morning that they had captured the seat by a mere four votes, the closest result in British by-election history. Labour asked for a full recount – after which, it turned out that the Reform party had actually won the by-election by six votes (still making it the closest by-election result in British history).
This is a huge result in British politics. Reform has proven that electorally, they are for real. The polls aren’t wrong or soft – people will turn out and vote for them. Nigel Farage’s party is a genuine, massive threat to the British political order.
By-election wins are also a sign that a smaller party is on the rise.
I was in Runcorn over the weekend, speaking to activists and locals. What struck me were two main things. One, how dominated the centre of town seemed to be by Reform.
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