Sarah Pochin is the Reform UK MP for Runcorn and Helsby, having won the seat in a by-election on 1 May 2025. She is the first female MP elected for Reform UK.
In the May 2025 by-election, Sarah Pochin received 12,645 votes, representing 38.72 per cent of the vote share. The Labour candidate, Karen Shore, received 12,639 votes (38.70 per cent), while the Conservative candidate, Sean Houlston, secured 2,341 votes (7.17 per cent).
Sarah Pochin was duly elected with a majority of just six votes, the narrowest majority in a UK parliamentary by-election since World War II.
Runcorn and Helsby, located in Cheshire, North West England, is a new constituency that was only created in time for the general election in July 2024. More than half of it (51.2 per cent) came from the former constituency of Weaver Vale, with 37.1 per cent from Halton and the remainder from three other former constituencies — Ellesmere Port and Neston, Eddisbury, and City of Chester.
Labour won the seat with a large majority in the 2024 general election. It was represented by Mike Amesbury until his resignation in March 2025 following an assault conviction.
Reform UK beats Labour in Runcorn and Helsby by just six votes
Political career
Sarah Pochin was elected MP for Runcorn and Helsby in the by-election held on 1 May 2025, becoming Reform UK’s fifth MP.
Before joining Reform UK, Pochin had a varied local political career primarily associated with the Conservative Party. She served as a Conservative councillor on Cheshire East Council from 2015 to 2023. She was elected Mayor of Cheshire East for the 2021-22 term, although she had been expelled from the Conservative group on the council in 2020 following disputes related to her selection as Mayor by the then Labour and Independent administration.
She subsequently joined the Independent Group on the council but was reportedly expelled from that group in October 2022 after it emerged she had temporarily rejoined the Conservative Party to vote in that year’s second leadership election.
Pochin stood unsuccessfully as the Conservative candidate for Bolton South East in the 2017 general election, losing to Labour MP and then-shadow justice minister Yasmin Qureshi.
Upon Pochin’s selection as the Reform candidate for the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, Reform UK leader Nigel Farage said: “Sarah is a great candidate who has enjoyed a successful career in private business and has represented the local community as a magistrate for the past 20 years.
“She has honourably resigned from that role to fight this by-election for Reform UK. Vote for a lawmaker, not a lawbreaker in Runcorn & Helsby.”
Sarah Pochin’s political views
As a Reform UK MP, Sarah Pochin aligns herself with the party’s platform, which includes policies focused on curbing immigration, reducing taxes, achieving energy independence, and reforming public services.
Her victory speech referenced standing up for “fairness… British values” and opposing “Tory failure” and “Labour lies”.
She said: “I know our victory here in Runcorn and Helsby will inspire the rest of the country to believe that they too can stand up for fairness, for what is right and for our British values, and their voices can be heard.
“We have made history tonight here in Runcorn and Helsby. Now, together, let’s build a better future. Thank you.”
Pochin focused her by-election campaign on immigration, targeting asylum hotels, houses of multiple occupation and Turkish barbers.
Upon her selection as the Reform candidate for the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, Pochin said: “Runcorn and Helsby has been failed by successive Labour representatives – now is their chance to elect someone that can fight their corner in Westminster and deliver the regeneration that we desperately need.
“Reform UK stands for family, community, and country – values that I have dedicated my life to upholding.
“Whether it’s higher taxes, cutting the winter fuel allowance or destroying small business, Labour has let local people down. Runcorn and Helsby needs Reform.”
Before politics
Sarah Pochin has lived in Cheshire for approximately 30 years. Before and alongside her local political career, she worked in private business, including roles at Shell International, Caradon Plc, and Heywood Williams Plc, according to Reform UK biographical information.
She also served for 20 years as a Magistrate in the Chester and Crewe courts.
Pochin was reprimanded in 2018 by the Judicial Conduct Investigations Office (JCIO) for misconduct during her tenure as a magistrate.
The JCIO found Pochin had used her status as a magistrate to influence the views held by her colleagues in a political context at a meeting.
The watchdog also found she breached confidentiality by publicising the complaint levelled against her, saying her “behaviour fell below the standards expected of a magistrate”.
Sarah Pochin’s personal life
Pochin is married to businessman Jonathan Pochin and has two sons.
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