Sarah Pochin made history on 2 May 2025 when she was declared the winner of the Runcorn and Helsby by-election — becoming Reform UK's first female Member of Parliament. Her victory, by just six votes after a recount, was one of the most dramatic results in recent British political history and a major signal of Reform UK's growing ability to compete in Labour heartlands.
Background and Career
Before entering Parliament, Pochin had a career in local government and the law. She served as a Justice of the Peace and was an active figure in Cheshire local politics, serving as a Conservative councillor and council leader before joining Reform UK. Her switch from the Conservatives to Reform UK reflected the broader flow of right-of-centre voters and politicians towards the insurgent party.
The Runcorn and Helsby By-Election
The by-election was triggered in late 2024 when the sitting Labour MP Mike Amesbury resigned after a video circulated showing him behaving drunkenly in public. Labour had won the seat comfortably at the 2024 general election, and the by-election was seen as a key test of the new government's popularity. Reform UK poured resources into the campaign, identifying it as a prime target. Pochin ran a disciplined, locally-focused campaign and defeated the Labour candidate by the slimmest of margins — just six votes — after a recount that kept the count running through the night.
The result was front-page news across Britain and was seen as a severe embarrassment for the Labour government. It confirmed that Reform UK could win in traditional Labour territory as well as the Conservative heartlands the party had targeted in 2024.
Career Timeline
- Pre-2025Career in law; Justice of the Peace; Conservative councillor and council leader in Cheshire West and Chester
- 2025 MayWon Runcorn and Helsby by-election for Reform UK by 6 votes — first Reform UK female MP
Frequently Asked Questions
Sarah Pochin is the Reform UK MP for Runcorn and Helsby in Cheshire, elected at a by-election on 1 May 2025. She was previously a Conservative councillor and the leader of Cheshire West and Chester Council. She is Reform UK's first female MP.
Pochin won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election on 1 May 2025, triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Mike Amesbury. The result was extremely close — she won by just six votes on the night, a margin confirmed after a recount. It was a major scalp for Reform UK, overturning a significant Labour majority.
Pochin represents Runcorn and Helsby in Cheshire — a constituency covering the town of Runcorn on the south bank of the Mersey, and the village of Helsby and surrounding rural areas. It was previously held by Labour.
Yes. Pochin's victory in the May 2025 by-election made her Reform UK's first female Member of Parliament — a historic milestone for the party.
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