The Runcorn and Helsby byelection belongs in the rubbish bin of politics. British byelections are charades, mock polls, playtime for pundits. They reduce normally sensible analysts to hysterics. That most pragmatic of prime ministers, Harold Wilson, refused point blank to comment on them.
Yes, Reform’s Nigel Farage had a field day. He is the latest jester to be cast as “Britain’s next prime minister”. For the past week, his party has celebrated winning Runcorn by six votes, with 39% of roughly half of the eligible electors who bothered to vote. He also won two of the six new regional mayoralties, and may control some 10 local councils. The media went berserk. The BBC gave Reform a total of 31% vote share in the local elections, making it the largest party. Tories were at “a new low” and Labour a mere ghost of a party.
