Reform UK has announced a former magistrate will be its candidate in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, unveiling Sarah Pochin, who has lived in Cheshire for nearly 30 years and served as a Justice of the Peace in the Chester and Crewe courts for 20 years.
The by-election was caused when former Labour MP Mike Amesbury won the seat at the 2024 general election but he then resigned earlier this month after punching a constituent and after also pleading guilty in January to assaulting constituent Paul Fellows, 45, after a row in the street in Frodsham, Cheshire, in the early hours of October 26 following which he was given a 10-week prison term, later reduced to a suspended sentence on appeal.
“I am also pleased to say we have made some big steps forward in terms of the calibre of candidates that we want to put up for our party and wow have we got a great candidate for the Runcorn and Helsby by-election.” said Reform’s leader Nigel Farage.
Reform is on course for taking the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, according to the Lord Ashcroft poll, Reform is likely to pick up 40 per cent of the vote, with Labour on 35 per cent.