Labour claims Tories are ‘gifting’ Runcorn byelection to Reform, as Badenoch downplays electoral impact
With local elections imminent, Labour accuses the Conservatives of neglecting the Runcorn byelection, with Tory MP Esther McVey suggesting they should concede to Reform UK. Kemi Badenoch, the new Conservative leader, stated that any poor election results should not reflect her personal popularity, citing a historical context of party recovery. As Labour anticipates significant Conservative seat losses, the byelection’s outcome will heavily influence the narrative surrounding the elections.