KEIR Starmer conceded Labour’s loss by just six votes to Reform UK in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election was “disappointing” and said the Government needed to go “further and faster” in delivering change.
The Prime Minister said his ruling party “get it” after new MP Sarah Pochin took the seat by a historically slim margin on Friday.
Nigel Farage’s party made gains from both Labour and the Conservatives, securing a victory in the Runcorn and Helsby by-election by just six votes, giving them five MPs in the House of Commons.
Party leader Farage claimed the results showed a “big moment” was taking place in politics.
Speaking to reporters, the Prime Minister said: “What I want to say is, my response is we get it.
“We were elected in last year to bring about change.”
He said that his party has “started that work” with changes such as reductions in NHS waiting lists, and he added: “I am determined that we will go further and faster on the change that people want to see.”
Starmer went on to hit out at Reform UK’s opposition to UK Government action on stopping small boats when asked if migration was the reason the party defeated Labour in the Runcorn by-election.
“Runcorn was very, very close, I think one of the closest by-elections in history,” Starmer told LBC and said there was a history of sitting governments not doing well in by-elections.
Asked if Nigel Farage was right to say Reform UK won the seat because of the migration issue, he said: “We put forward legislation to give many more powers to law enforcement to deal with small boat crossings, with gangs that are running that. Reform came into Parliament and voted against that bill.
“You can’t say on the one hand, you’re serious about dealing with the problem – and it is a serious problem – and on the other hand, vote down powers to get law enforcement the tools that they need to tackle (it).”
He added that the UK Government took “tough but right decisions” in the budget when asked about the impact policy changes such as the winter fuel allowance are having on support for Labour.
He told Sky News: “The reason that we took the tough but right decisions in the budget was because we inherited a broken economy.
“Maybe other prime ministers would have walked past that, pretended it wasn’t there (…) I took the choice to make sure our economy was stable.”
He added: “Yes they were tough decisions, they were the right decisions. Because of those decisions we are now seeing waiting lists coming down, something people desperately want.
“Because of that pensioners are now £470 up as of last month, these are really important changes.”
