By-elections that shook up politics – could Andy Burnham be next?
By-election counts are the FA Cup ties of British politics.
Some go true to form, but many are tense, nail-biting, go deep into extra time and provide upsets and shocks by political giant killers.
Publisher and broadcaster Iain Dale has published a weighty book, British By-elections: The 88 By-election Campaigns That Shaped Our Politics.
Could Labour’s King of the North, football fanatic Andy Burnham, who’s tipped to come off the bench and contest Gorton and Denton in a by-election, be next?
Burnham fuelled speculation about a Commons comeback when he said in an interview on Thursday he had “never ruled out going back to Westminster”.
With chapters written by politicians, academics and journalists in his book, Dale claims his 88 are the most consequential by-elections of the modern era.
Now I can’t claim to have covered 88 by-election counts for Sky News. After all, the first was in 1769 and 70 of the 88 in the book were before the 21st century.
But I have covered 44, if I’m not mistaken, starting in 2003, and I’m grateful for a few mentions in the book, some flattering, some less so. But there you go.
“There’s rarely a dull by-election,” Dale writes in his preface. “Some by-elections take on iconic status and are remembered several decades after they take place.
“Others quickly disappear into the depths of our memories, rarely to be thought about ever again.”
Allies of Andy Burnham have launched a new campaign group, Mainstream, calling on the government to introduce a wealth tax among other things
The first by-election I covered for Sky News, in September 2003, was Brent East, which saw a shock win for the Liberal Democrats over Labour.
The most recent was Runcorn and Helsby, in May this year, when Reform UK’s Sarah Pochin was just six votes ahead of Labour after an all-nighter and a result at 6am.
When there’s a recount, I’ve joked about VAR holding up the result. I even covered one by-election count, Stretford and Urmston, at the Old Trafford football ground.
Over 22 years of covering by-election counts I hope I’ve learned the tricks of the trade when the result is on a knife-edge: One, look closely at the piles of ballot papers; two, see which candidate has a victory speech in their hand or pocket.
Sarah Pochin won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election in 2025.
Pic: PA
But most important, three, find out what’s said in the huddle when the returning officer calls the candidates and their agents together to brief them on the result ahead of the declaration.
It may have been my first TV count after more than 20 years in newspapers, but lesson three served me well at Brent East, as my former Sky News colleague Joe Pike reveals in his chapter on Sarah Teather’s triumph.
“Jon Craig, Sky News’ new signing, who would go on to broadcast from more than 40 by-election counts, announced Labour’s loss even before the returning officer had stood up,” Pike writes.
“(Robert) Evans (Labour’s candidate) tipped him off that Labour had lost by 1,000 votes and Craig passed on the revelation on live TV.”
Jon Craig at the Stretford and Urmston by-election count in December 2023
Thanks, Joe. I’d kept quiet about how I discovered the result until now.
A glaring omission from the book, in my opinion, is George Galloway’s upset in Bradford West in 2012.
When Sky News arrived at the count, everyone in the hall was predicting a Labour win. But gradually the mood changed. I texted George: “Labour getting jitters here, George! Say you’re doing very well. What do you think?”
“Think I’m going to win, Jon,” he replied instantly.
“Labour and Tory MPs think so too,” I told him. “Keen to get you on TV.” I called him and urged him to come to the count and claim victory.
And ‘Gorgeous George’, never one to be shy or turn down publicity, duly obliged. He’d turned a Labour majority of nearly 6,000 into a victory for his Respect Party by more than 10,000 votes, a swing of more than 50%.
Richmond Park, in 2016, and Copeland, 2017, are in the book. My memory of Richmond Park is chasing a very angry Zac Goldsmith, the Tory Heathrow expansion rebel, around the count after he lost to the Lib Dem Sarah Olney.
Hartlepool, in 2021, was a by-election that really did take on iconic status. It was a rare Tory gain, a victory for Boris Johnson in the Red Wall and it threw the new Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer into a panic.
He sacked his chief whip, Nick Brown, tried to demote his deputy, Angela Rayner. But that backfired, as she acquired even more titles. He’s since admitted he considered quitting.
The result came at 7.10am, by which time a giant inflatable Boris Johnson doll had been erected outside the count. My post-results broadcasts were from in front of that.
Members of Hartlepool’s business community erected a 30-foot inflatable model of Boris Johnson outside the count in 2021. Pic: PA.
Oh, and on the Monday, back in Westminster, I tested positive for COVID. Red Wall COVID.
The second Batley and Spen by-election, later in 2021, saw ‘Gorgeous George’ attempt to repeat his Bradford West triumph. Tracy Brabin had succeeded the murdered Jo Cox in 2016 but had quit to become West Yorkshire mayor.
This time Kim Leadbeater, Jo’s sister and now the assisted dying crusader, was Labour’s candidate. Galloway was described by author Emma Burnell in the book as “a serial candidate over the years, with varying levels of success”.
This “Red Wall” clash was, though, a classic knife-edge by-election, running deep into extra time, with Leadbeater squeezing home by 323 votes ahead of the Tory candidate Ryan Stephenson. Cue VAR gags during the delays.
Votes being counted at the Batley and Spen by-election in 2021. Pic: PA
“On election night, neither Labour nor the Conservatives were confident of victory,” writes Burnell, editor of LabourList. “Mobile phones were banned from the count and so most of the news the candidates were receiving was through television coverage.
“At one point, Sky’s Jon Craig declared that the Tories had won and it was just a case of by how much. However, Stephenson delights in telling the story of his entering the count later (now aware of how the night had gone) to overhear Craig announcing to the nation: ‘The loser, Mr Stephenson, has now arrived.’
“Leadbeater, meanwhile, had not prepared her victory speech, convinced as she was that she had lost.” My recollection, however, is different and I’m sure she did have a speech. (Lesson two)
At Mid-Bedfordshire in 2023 after Nadine Dorries’ resignation, LBC radio’s Henry Riley recalls a tense count and writes: “The only brief moment of levity was when veteran by-election reporter-in-chief Jon Craig of Sky News was presented with a cake by the High Sheriff of Bedfordshire, Russell Beard, to celebrate his 40th by-election.”
Jon Craig celebrated covering his 40th by-election in Mid Bedfordshire in 2023.
From new signing to veteran in just 20 years. It’s a cruel world.
In Rochdale last year, George Galloway was back. And this time he won by nearly 6,000 votes and became the first MP elected to represent a fourth different Westminster constituency since Winston Churchill, Sunder Katwala tells us in the book.
George and I are old comrades, going back to his days as a left-wing firebrand in the Labour Party. I was a touch embarrassed at Rochdale, however, when he said during our post-result interview: “You bought me lunch!”
Runcorn and Helsby was so close – six votes – that the count dragged on until 6am after a massive recount. “As the night turned to morning, Labour staff looked more and more nervous,” writes ITV’s Harry Horton in the book.
“Reform’s team appeared nervous. At one point, a Reform aide instructed photographers to assemble at the door for the arrival of Nigel Farage.
“One broadcaster claimed he’d seen the Reform leaders circling the car park outside but had driven off when it appeared Labour might sneak a win. Farage later denied anything of the sort had ever happened.”
Nigel Farage with Sarah Pochin after she won the Runcorn and Helsby by-election
Well, as the “one broadcaster” referred to by Harry, there was indeed a car circling the car park. But, admittedly, it was dark! We all make mistakes.
There have been a few blunders. At one count, not long after she became an MP, I mistook Angela Rayner for Jess Phillips. Fortunately, she told me she was flattered. Whatever happened to her?
So where next on the by-election fixture list? Will Andy Burnham contest Gwyne’s seat prior to challenging Sir Keir Starmer for the Labour captaincy?
With Reform UK the challengers in Gorton and Denton, that’s a by-election that could be one for VAR.
The former leader of Reform UK in Wales has been sentenced to 10 and a half years after he admitted accepting tens of thousands of pounds in cash to make pro-Russian statements to the media and European Parliament.
Nathan Gill had “abused a position of significant authority and trust” and was “motivated by financial and political gain”, said Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb during remarks at the Old Bailey on Friday.
Gill, 52, of Anglesey, North Wales, had previously pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery between 6 December 2018 and 18 July 2019, corresponding to his time as an MEP.
Nathan Gill is surrounded by media as he arrives at the Old Bailey. Pic: PA
The Old Bailey heard his activities were linked to pro-Russian statements about Ukraine while he was a member of the UK Independence Party (UKIP) and subsequently the Brexit Party.
Following an investigation by counter-terrorism police, officers said they believe Gill likely took a minimum of £40,000 in cash and was offering to introduce other British MEPs so they could be bribed. Officers also said they believed some individuals in this case had a direct link to Vladimir Putin.
Nathan Gill pleaded guilty to eight counts of bribery. Pic: Met Police
Prosecutor Mark Heywood KC previously told the court the bribery offences related to Gill’s association with pro-Russian Oleg Voloshyn, who had been a Ukrainian government official before 2014 and was sanctioned by the UK in 2022.
Gill’s activities emerged in WhatsApp messages after he was stopped at Manchester Airport on 13 September 2021.
He was about to board a flight to Russia to be an observer in elections there.
Bundles of cash recovered
Police said the messages revealed Voloshyn had tasked Gill to make pro-Russian statements on a reward basis. Counter-terrorism officers said the text of some speeches was provided to Gill, which he delivered almost word-for-word.
In other cases, he was paid to offer commentary to news outlets, such as the pro-Russian media organisation 112 Ukraine.
A search of his home in Wales also uncovered thousands in euros and dollars.
Bundles of cash were recovered from Gill’s home. Pic: Met Police
Pic: Met Police
Greed ‘primary motivation’
Commander Dominic Murphy, head of the Metropolitan Police Counter Terrorism Command, described Gill as being motivated by money.
“It appears… greed was his primary motivation. But I think there’s an element of him that had a pro-Russian stance as well, but only he can answer that question, to be honest with you, he never told us that.”
Gill was interviewed in March 2022 and made no comment. He was charged and appeared in court in February 2025.
Gill said no comment when interviewed by officers in 2022. Pic: Met Police
‘A grave betrayal of trust’
During sentencing, Mrs Justice Cheema-Grubb described Gill’s offending as “sophisticated” and “a grave betrayal of the trust vested in you by the electorate”.
She told him: “You accepted payments from foreign nationals, made statements on important international matters at their behest, utilised scripted material presented as your own, and orchestrated the involvement of other MPs.
“Your misconduct has ramifications far beyond personal honour, which is now irretrievably damaged. It erodes public confidence in democracy when politicians succumb to financial inducement.”
Gill was paid to offer commentary to pro-Russian media outlet, 112 Ukraine. Pic: Met Police
Other UK politicians at risk
Commander Murphy said that police were continuing to investigate other MEPs, including some from the UK.
“What we do know from the conversations with [Oleg] Voloshyn is that Nathan Gill actually offered his services to contact other MEPs, mostly UK MEPs, to also make statements that might be supportive of a Russian position in Ukraine,” he said.
He added: “I do believe that some of the individuals in this case do have direct connections to Vladimir Putin. And I have no doubt that if we were able to, we could follow this trail and it would lead straight to Moscow.”
Commander Dominic Murphy believes greed was Gill’s primary motivation
Gill led the Welsh wing of UKIP between 2014 and 2016 and was a member of the Senedd between 2016 and 2017.
He was an MEP between 2014 and 2020, but left UKIP in 2019 to join Nigel Farage’s Brexit Party – later Reform UK.
Political fallout after prison term
Police have confirmed Nigel Farage has not been part of this investigation, but political rivals have called on the Reform UK leader to launch a thorough investigation.
Defence minister Al Carns, a former colonel in the Royal Marines, said Gill’s actions were “a disgrace”. He added: “I just think wherever we see Russian influence in UK politics, it’s got to be weeded out.”
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Meanwhile, Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey said “a traitor was at the very top of Reform UK”, referring to Gill, but also launched a direct attack on Mr Farage by calling him, and his party, “a danger to national security”.
“Nigel Farage himself was previously paid to be on Putin’s TV channel, Russia Today, and said he was the world leader he admires the most.
“We must all ask – where do his loyalties really lie? We need a full investigation into Russian interference in our politics,” he said.
Reform UK, which previously kicked Gill out of the party, said in a statement: “Mr Gill’s actions were reprehensible, treasonous and unforgivable. We are glad that justice has been served and fully welcome the sentence Nathan Gill has received.”
Liz Saville Roberts, Plaid Cymru’s Westminster leader, welcomed Gill’s jail sentence “for his acts of betrayal in taking bribes from Russia”.
In a statement, she said: “If the former Reform UK leader in Wales was part of a broader, co-ordinated effort to advance Moscow’s agenda within our democratic institutions, then the public deserves to know the full truth, and how far Russian money and influence reached into Nigel Farage’s inner circle.”
Britons buying cocaine on a Friday night could be inadvertently funding Russia’s war in Ukraine.
The National Crime Agency has revealed a billion-dollar money laundering network is operating in 28 towns and cities across the UK.
Couriers collect “dirty” cash generated from drugs, firearms and immigration gangs, which is then converted into cryptocurrency.
Officials say these illicit transactions have a direct link to “geopolitical events causing suffering around the world”.
This network was first exposed because of Operation Destabilise – and to date, 128 arrests have been made, with more than £25m in cash and digital assets seized.
A poster put up in motorway service station toilets by the NCA. Pic: PA
According to the NCA, the enterprise is so prolific that it purchased a bank to facilitate payments that supported Russia’s military efforts and helped sidestep sanctions.
Posters have been put up in motorway service stations to target couriers, which warn it is “just a matter of time” before they will be arrested.
The NCA’s deputy director for economic crime, Sal Melki, has warned the threat posed by this money laundering network is significant.
He added: “Cash couriers play an intrinsic role in this global scheme. They are in our communities and making the criminal ecosystem function – because if you cannot profit from your crimes, why bother.
“They are paid very little for the risks they take and face years in prison, while those they work for enjoy huge profits.”
Mr Melki went on to warn that “easy money leads to hard time” – and earning just a few hundred pounds through laundering could lead to years behind bars.
Sal Melki
The NCA says Operation Destabilise has already had an impact in criminal circles, with some members of the network now reluctant to operate in London.
Those involved in the money laundering effort have also started to charge higher fees – reflecting the difficulty of cleaning ill-gotten gains.
Cryptocurrencies are often regarded as a haven for criminals because they are perceived to be anonymous, but it is possible to trace these transactions.
Chainalysis is a company that monitors suspicious activity on blockchains, a type of database that keeps records of who sends and receives digital assets – as well as how much.
Its vice president of communications Madeleine Kennedy told Sky News: “Public blockchains are transparent by design, which makes cryptocurrencies a poor vehicle for money laundering.
“With the right tools, law enforcement can trace illicit funds – whether they’re connected to drug trafficking, sanctions evasion, or cybercrime – and use those insights to disrupt networks and recover assets.”
Read more:
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Ekatarina Zhdanova. Pic: NCA
Last December, a global investigation led by the NCA smashed two networks whose money laundering activities were prevalent in 30 countries.
Bundles of cash were seized during raids, with detectives describing Smart and TGR as the invisible link between “Russian elites, crypto-rich cybercriminals and drug gangs in the UK”.
One of the network’s ringleaders, a Russian national called Ekatarina Zhdanova, is currently in custody in France and awaiting trial for separate financial offences.
Security minister Dan Jarvis added: “This complex operation has exposed the corrupt tactics Russia used to avoid sanctions and fund its illegal war in Ukraine.
“We are working tirelessly to detect, disrupt and prosecute anyone engaging in activity for a hostile foreign state. It will never be tolerated on our streets.”
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