Nigel Farage's Reform UK Party narrowly wins Runcorn parliamentary seat

Reform party leader Nigel Farage reacts as the party wins the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, at Halton Stadium in Widnes, Britain, May 2, 2025. REUTERS/Phil Noble

LONDON (Reuters) - Nigel Farage's populist, right-wing Reform UK party won a parliamentary seat in northwest England on Friday by the smallest ever margin in a parliamentary by-election in the country's history.

Reform's Sarah Pochin beat Labour's candidate by just six votes. Runcorn and Helsby had previously been a safe Labour seat with the party winning more than half the area's votes in last year's national election.