Reform UK on the brink of gaining SIXTH MP as top pollster puts Farage in pole position to snatch Amesbury’s seat from Labour

Reform UK has been tipped to increase its MP count to six ahead of an “inevitable” by-election in Mike Amesbury’s Runcorn & Helsby seat.

After this morning’s news that Amesbury was slapped with a 10-week prison sentence for punching a man in the street in a late-night bust-up, top pollster Luke Tryl has warned that Reform is on track to take his constituency.

Tryl, the director of More in Common, said: “The dynamics of the now inevitable by-election – low turnout, national Government unpopular, disgraced former MP and Reform already second – mean, despite the big Labour majority, Reform would be disappointed not to win given their current polling/momentum.”

Last month, Amesbury, 55, admitted to attacking 45-year-old constituent Paul Fellowes in Frodsham, Cheshire, in the early hours of October 26.

The MP’s upcoming stint behind bars could spark a by-election if 10 per cent of constituents sign a petition to hold one.

Some five per cent of voters in Runcorn & Helsby have already signed a petition demanding an immediate General Election, with total signatories nationwide exceeding three million.

And Reform UK chairman Zia Yusuf – whose party finished second in the seat at the General Election – said following Amesbury’s sentencing: “The great people of Runcorn deserve far better than waiting six weeks for a recall petition to take place.

“We call on Mike Amesbury to do the honourable thing and resign immediately so a by-election can be held.”

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Leave.EU campaign co-founder and “bad boy of Brexit” Arron Banks could be selected by Reform UK to contest any by-election in Runcorn & Helsby, GB News’ Political Editor Christopher Hope reported on Monday.

Reform was represented by Frodsham councillor and local man Jason Moorcroft last summer.

But with Banks having been brought up in nearby Winsford, speculation is mounting he could be dropped in to contest the Cheshire constituency.

“Reform UK is expected to unveil its candidate this week, but party sources downplayed Banks as being given the job of winning the seat,” Chopper said.

Meanwhile, Labour has confirmed it will be defending the seat with a new candidate.

A statement from Sir Keir Starmer’s party today read: “The Labour Party took swift action following Mike Amesbury’s completely unacceptable actions, and he is no longer a Labour MP nor a member of the Labour Party.

“It is right that Mr Amesbury pleaded guilty and has now been sentenced.

“Local residents in the Runcorn & Helsby constituency deserved better, and we look forward to them getting the representation they deserve in the future with a new Labour MP.”