A legal challenge to Reform UK’s by-election victory in Runcorn and Helsby has been dismissed by judges. Sarah Pochin won the May by-election by six votes following the resignation of ex-Labour MP Mike Amesbury. The challenge was brought by Graham Moore of the English Constitution Party, who received the fewest votes of the 15 candidates.
Mr Moore sought to have the result declared void and requested an independent recount, claiming a “statistical impossibility” in receiving exactly 50 votes, the same number he had received in the 2016 Tooting by-election. He told the court: “I was the only one that had exactly 50 votes and exactly 50 votes in 2016. Both of those counts were run by, in effect, Labour people in high Labour areas. Marxism comes into it.”
He also suggested alleged fraud by Labour despite the party’s defeat and claimed a full recount had not taken place. Judges rejected these claims after reviewing video footage of the count and hearing from deputy returning officer Penny Housley, ruling that Mr Moore had been “mistaken in his belief.” They confirmed that a full recount had occurred and found “there was no ‘sleight of hand’ and there was no chaotic scene at the count.”
The court ordered Mr Moore to pay the costs of the respondents, Ms Pochin and the acting returning officer Stephen Young, assessed at £30,000 and £45,000 respectively. The judgment noted that £35,000 had been raised for Mr Moore through crowdfunding.
Electoral Commission guidance warns that election petitions can carry significant costs and advises independent legal advice before proceeding.
