Labour MPs urge Starmer to change course after Reform takes Runcorn safe seat

LABOUR MPs, trade unions and campaigners called on the government to urgently change course today after Reform UK overturned the party’s majority of 15,000 to win the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by six votes for its candidate, former Conservative councillor Sarah Pochin.
Thursday’s local elections saw the far-right party also take their first mayoralty in Greater Lincolnshire for ex-Tory MP and minister Andrea Jenkyns, and come close seconds to Labour in three other mayoral races, as well as taking hundreds of council seats from the Tories and winning control of many councils.
Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer responded to the losses by saying ”I get it,” and pledged to go ”further and faster” in changing Britain.
But veteran Labour MP Diane Abbott said: ”Labour leadership is saying the party will go further and faster — in the same direction.
”They don’t seem to understand: it is our current direction that is the problem.”
Former shadow chancellor John McDonnell MP said: ”The message to ministers is: drop plans to attack disabled people.”
And Labour MP for Leeds East Richard Burgon said that Labour’s defeat in Runcorn was ”entirely avoidable” and a ”direct result of the party leadership’s political choices.”
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