3 April 2025; Reform UK is celebrating again as the party gained a roaring victory over the Liberal Democrats in the council by-election win for Sutton South East (St Helens). Sutton South East is a mainly working class ward in St Helens, Merseyside. Reform gained 44.5% of the vote despite a very low turnout of less than 17.7% with John Pinnington (reform) beating Labour (36.3%) and Liberal Democrats (14.6%) with a Conservative wipe-out at just 4.6%. The by-election arose after the death of Lib Dem councillor, Brian Spencer (77 yrs old). This follows on from another by-election in December in St Helens’ Blackbrook ward when Reform trounced a safe Labour seat. Nigel Farage was said to be delighted as the result “proves that Reform UK is capable of grabbing votes from not just the Tories and Labour, but also the Lib Dems”.
The Reform candidate, an ex-military local businessman, Mr Pinnington started his own haulage firm after years as a HGV driver , according to his campaign and his win means that Reform now has a second councillor in Labour Controlled St Helens. (Result Link). A great birthday present for Nigel Farage.
Reform were not so successful in two other seats of Lincoln Park Ward where the Liberal Democrats won (35.7%), Labour (27.3%), Reform (17.6%) and Conservatives (8.5%) and in Neath, Port Talbot won by Liberal Democrats (34%), Plaid Cymru (30.2%), Reform (13%) and Labour (12.7%).