A Reform Labour showdown looms in the Runcorn by-election

Labour MP Mike Amesbury was sentenced in February to ten weeks in prison for punching a constituent.

His resignation will trigger the first by-election of Sir Keir Starmer ’s Labour government.

The town of Runcorn makes up two-thirds of the seat and the rest is comprised of commuter villages stretching south to Chester .

Labour won convincingly in 2024 with a 35 -point majority.

But now, Labour 's chances are not set in stone.