Runcorn and Helsby victory 'wouldn't surprise me', admits Reform MP as Nigel Farage eyes up major boost

GB News

Reform MP James McMurdock has hailed his party's achievement in fielding the most council candidates outside the two main parties as "staggering".Speaking on GB News, McMurdock called it "an extraordinary achievement" that demonstrates the party's work ethic."These people have to be real people to step forward. It shows how hard we're working," he said.The comments come as millions of voters across England headed to the polls yesterday in local elections where Reform UK is expected to surge in popularity.Reform has mounted a serious offensive in these elections, which represent Labour's first major electoral test since coming to power last July.Reform has fielded 1,624 candidates in the local elections, gunning for 99 per cent of the seats up for grabs.This marks a dramatic increase from last year when the party contested barely over 300 seats.The rapid professionalisation comes after Reform secured five seats in last year's general election.Research by Electoral Calculus in March suggested Reform and the Conservatives were neck and neck on 25 per cent of the vote.This could potentially translate to 474 seat wins for Reform, compared to just two gained last year.All eyes are on whether Reform can convert its momentum into council seats as results begin to come in.McMurdock expressed optimism about Reform's prospects in unexpected areas during the elections."I can't give anything away but there are areas where I would not have expected us to do especially well, such as Runcorn, where I would not be in the least bit surprised if we did," he told GB News.The parliamentary constituency of Runcorn and Helsby is currently holding a by-election triggered by the resignation of Mike Amesbury.McMurdock was particularly effusive about Reform candidate Sarah Pochin."I would say Sarah could have a bigger impact as an extra Reform MP right now than just another Labour candidate could," he stated.Labour won the seat with 53 per cent of the vote less than a year ago.

Transcript

00:00There are some very alive elections tonight, and I know you as one of four Reform MPs will have your

00:06ear to the ground over what internal things are going on up there in Runcorn. Now, can you give

00:13just, I mean, it's just you and me here, James. No one else is listening or watching.

00:20What can you tell us? I mean, you seem pretty happy about the way the night's going so far.

00:27Yeah, and I think we have good reason to be. I see this as a no-lose situation for us.

00:34We've already put ourselves on the map and demonstrated that we're doing what we said

00:38we'd do in terms of professionalising the party. I think it's a staggering achievement that for

00:43the first time in basically a century, one party other than the two main ones have put forward

00:49the most, the council seats. It's an extraordinary achievement. It does say something about how

00:54serious we are and how hard we're working. And also that, you know, remember, we can't magic these

01:00people out of thin air. They have to be real people that have to step forward. And it's not always as

01:04simple as, you know, everyone who does step forward being appropriate. So it really does show how hard

01:09we're working. And look, I can't give anything away. And also, just like everyone else in the room,

01:17I don't, I can't see the future. So I don't know. But what I will say is, there are areas where I

01:23would not have expected us to do especially well, such as run corn, where I would not be in the least

01:29bit surprised if we did win. In fact, and it does help that Sarah is such a fantastic candidate. I think

01:35I'd be disappointed if we didn't. And just for the sake of the country, if I can will something into

01:40existence, I would say that I think Sarah could have a bigger impact as an extra reform MP in

01:46opposition right now for this government than just another Labour candidate could. So I'm really

01:50hopeful that we get her. I can't guarantee it. And, you know, to put it into perspective,

01:56run corn is actually a safer seat than the prime ministers. So 16, 14, 15, 16,000, excuse me,

02:04if I've got that wrong, 1000 majority versus around 11, 12,000 for Keir Starmer. So it's a

02:09staggeringly significant figure when you put it that way. And I think we've got to the point

02:15where I'd actually be disappointed if we didn't win.

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