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The legal challenge was filed after Sarah Pochin won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election earlier this year
A legal challenge to the result of a Liverpool City Region by-election won by Reform UK has been dismissed. English Constitution Party candidate Graham Moore lodged the parliamentary election petition following the Runcorn and Helsby by-election in May, in which he came last out of 15 candidates.
The vote, held after ex-Labour MP Mike Amesbury stood down following a conviction for punching a constituent, was won by Reform UK candidate Sarah Pochin with 12,645 votes, just six more than Labour.
In a judgment handed down on Tuesday, the petition was dismissed and Mr Moore was ordered to pay costs for the two respondents, Ms Pochin and acting returning officer Stephen Young.
The legal challenge, requesting the election be declared void and an independent recount conducted, was initially also made against Cheshire Constabulary and Royal Mail.
The cases against the police and the mail service were dismissed earlier this year but senior judges ruled a trial of the petition should still go ahead, with Ms Pochin and Mr Young as respondents.
At the three-day election court hearing at Chester, Mr Justice Spencer and Mr Justice Bryan heard Mr Moore speak about the “statistical impossibility” of receiving 50 votes, which he said was the exact number he received when standing in the Tooting by-election in 2016.
Mr Moore, who represented himself, told the court: “I was the only one that had exactly 50 votes and exactly 50 votes in 2016, both of those counts were run by, in effect, Labour people in high Labour areas.”
He added: “Marxism comes into it.”
He claimed he had seen an estimated 116 votes cast for him at the election count and suggested alleged fraud could have been carried out by Labour, despite the party losing the seat.
An election petition represents the sole method of challenging a Parliamentary election result, with the Government website explaining that anyone can contest a result if they possessed voting rights or stood as a candidate.
Election petitions can be lodged by candidates or electors but guidance from the Electoral Commission warns there are “costs attached” and independent legal advice is recommended.
Those submitting petitions must typically do so within 21 days and pay approximately £650, and can proceed if they believe it was conducted improperly, such as through incorrect vote counting or a candidate breaching the law.
The winning candidate must be served with the petition, even if the petitioner does not suspect them of wrongdoing.
In winning the Runcorn and Helsby by-election in May, Ms Pochin became the first Reform UK Member of Parliament elected in any part of the Liverpool City Region.
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