Latest news with #Runcorn
BBC News
11 hours ago
- Politics
- BBC News
Reform MP Sarah Pochin's housing crime comments criticised
A council leader and police commissioner (PCC) have criticised comments made about Runcorn by the area's Reform MP about crime and Pochin made claims about crimes being committed in houses of multiple occupation in the town in her maiden speech to PCC Dan Price said "no evidence" had been provided to Cheshire Police on reports of crimes in HMOs, while the force said it was "not aware of any widespread issues" relating to HMOs in the Pochin said she had CCTV footage of "late-night knife and drug crime" and had been crime reference numbers. In her maiden speech, Mrs Pochin said there were a number of "illegal immigrants" in Runcorn and that HMOs were "breeding grounds for organised crime gangs".She also made similar comments on BBC Politics North a joint statement, the politicians said they did not know where her information had come from and called on her to retract her Wharton, the Labour leader of Halton Borough Council, said: "Our communities deserve factual information, and we are here to provide that to them."Halton Borough Council stand willing to provide factual information to Mrs Pochin, in order to assist her in her duties to advocate for and assist her constituents in Runcorn."Dan Price, the Labour Police and Crime Commissioner for Cheshire, said he did not "recognise the picture that Sarah Pochin tries to paint of Runcorn"."It's not based on reality," he said."On several occasions Mrs Pochin has stated to have seen CCTV providing evidence of criminal activity."To date, no reports or evidence has been provided to Cheshire Police or to my office by Mrs Pochin, despite the MP having had several opportunities to do so." Sarah Pochin said: "My constituents are raising serious concerns about the rise in HMOs housing asylum seekers."We've received first-hand accounts from those living next door, backed up by CCTV footage of late-night knife and drug crime, intimidating behaviour by gang members and unacceptable noise."Despite the PCC claiming to be unaware of this, which in itself is a concern, we have crime reference numbers from Cheshire Police. This isn't hearsay - it's happening in our community. And if you live next door to one of these HMOs, it's a living nightmare."She said the response of Labour councillors in the area was "arrogance, dismissal, [and] silence". Cheshire Police said it was "not aware of any widespread issues or concerns relating to homes of multiple occupation in the Runcorn area".It said it received eight reports of incidents at one HMO in Brookvale between May and November last said five of these were reports of burglaries - four of which it was found there was no crime committed and one report remaining under investigation, two reports of people congregating at the address and one report of anti-social behaviour involving a group of youths near the property."There have been no further reports of any incidents at a HMO since 15 November 2024," the force said. Read more stories from Cheshire on the BBC and follow BBC North West on X. For more local politics coverage, BBC Politics North West is on BBC One on Sunday at 10:00am and on BBC iPlayer.
Telegraph
2 days ago
- Politics
- Telegraph
Has Reform peaked?
A couple of days ago, I spotted Nigel Farage on the terrace of the House of Commons, enjoying a late afternoon drink in the sun with his fellow Reform MPs. I could hardly complain about his work ethic, as I should have been in the office myself. I saw him looking out across the Thames – content, relaxed, and surrounded by friends, all of whom agree with the bookies' suggestion that he is set to become our next Prime Minister. On top of the polls, on top of the world, the master of all he surveyed. And yet, only six weeks or so after Reform's triumph at the local elections, is the shine starting to come off Farage? A YouGov poll this week had the party down two points to 27 per cent, with Labour up one to 24 per cent. Reform's lead over Labour has halved in a single week. As relaxed as Farage seemed as he tucked into his pint, is he worried that his momentum is starting to stall? It's hardly been a peaceful month at Reform HQ. Just as the party was basking in its seizure of ten councils, two mayoralties, and the constituency of Runcorn and Helsby, Farage came under steady attack for his latest pie-in-the-sky policy package: scrapping the two-child limit and introducing a new transferable marriage tax allowance to his already costly plan to lift the income tax threshold to £20,000. Then we had Zia Yusuf's two-day resignation and his replacement as the party's chairman by self-styled paranormal expert Dr David Bull; a man who has claimed that 'immigration is the lifeblood of this country.' Endless in-fighting, ideological incoherence, a shallow policy platform: the general impression created by Reform is one of unseriousness. I bet Farage still can't believe his luck: a doubling of his party's vote share in a year, the implosion of the Tories (languishing on 17 per cent in that same YouGov poll), and an utterly useless Labour Government. Downing Street beckons. But if the last year has proven anything, it is how quickly political fortunes can change. One day you're cock of the walk, the next a feather duster. Could voters dump Farage just as quickly as they picked him up? Certainly. But one hesitates to write off Reform because of only one poll – especially as other pollsters have the party topping 30 per cent. The reasons for Farage's success are structural. Voters hated the Tories, and now they hate Labour for much of the same reasons. With both old parties discredited, why not take a punt on something different? It helps when that this new party is led by one of the best-known politicians in Britain – and one of the few with any credibility on the salient topic of immigration. A day after I spied Farage on the Commons terrace, I saw him again at a Tufton Street talk on the future of net zero. He was by turns charming, insightful and profound, especially when tracing climate extremism to a broader crisis of godlessness. Between calling for escalation in the Middle East, and pledging an end to the fracking ban, he seemed confident and unchanged. He will never become a statesman in the traditional mould. But it is always a pleasure to see him at work.
Daily Mail
4 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
The reeling in of Reform: Nigel Farage sees poll lead halved in a week amid infighting and backing for benefits splurge
There were more signs of Reform being reeled in today as a poll showed the party's lead dwindling. YouGov research put Nigel Farage 's insurgents on 27 per cent - down two points from last week. Meanwhile, Labour clawed back a point to 24 per cent, meaning Reform's advantage has halved. The Tories were stuck on just 17 per cent with the Lib Dems on 15 per cent and the Greens 10 per cent. Evidence has been mounting that the sheen is coming off Mr Farage's party following an extraordinary rise in popularity. At the end of May Reform was eight points ahead according to YouGov. The reasons remain unclear, although Reform has come under heavy fire for backing an end to the two-child benefit cap and unrealistic tax and spending plans. There has been a chaotic bout of infighting that saw chairman Zia Yusuf initially quit swiping it was not worth his time trying to get the party elected. He U-turned on the resignation soon afterwards, but Mr Farage replaced him as chairman with David Bull. Critics have pounced on mixed messages about whether the Burka should be banned and the death penalty restored. Meanwhile, Keir Starmer has shifted strategy to mount full-frontal attacks on Mr Farage and his policies, rather than trying to ignore his political threat. Dramatic local election results last month caused panic in Labour circles. Reform seized 10 councils, two mayoralties and the Parliamentary seat of Runcorn in a by-election.
Daily Mail
6 days ago
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Beating a path to the Job Centre: brawling former Shadow employment minister Mike Amesbury who sucker-punched a constituent
Queuing up at the Job Centre must come as something of a blow if you're a former Shadow employment minister. But with his political career in tatters after he was convicted of drunkenly assaulting a constituent, this is the reality for axed MP Mike Amesbury, 56 – who now has little choice but to roll with the punches himself. The disgraced one-time Labour politician was seen looking rather forlorn in Runcorn, Cheshire, as he attempted to find work after completing 200 hours of community service in lieu of jail time for his crime. Amesbury was clearly keen to make a good impression for his appointment, and was dressed smartly in a grey suit, with black shoes and polo shirt. The former MP will certainly have a lot of time on his hands these days. Last week, he posted his CV to networking site LinkedIn, saying he was 'looking for work' and urging his contacts to 'reconnect' – but with a conviction for violence, he may find the search more challenging than most. In shocking scenes, the Runcorn and Helsby MP punched Paul Fellows to the ground in Frodsham, Cheshire, last October after the constituent had confronted him about a local bridge closure. The father-of-one continued to punch the 45-year-old quantity surveyor as he lay on the ground and shouted: 'You won't threaten the MP again, will you, you f****** soft lad.' Amesbury was clearly keen to make a good impression for his appointment, and was dressed smartly in a grey suit, with black shoes and polo shirt After pleading guilty to common assault, and accepting that Mr Fellows had not physically provoked him, he spent three nights in prison in March before successfully appealing the sentence. His punishment was downgraded to a suspended sentence and community service. His punishment was downgraded to a suspended sentence and community service. He was later seen in a hi-vis jacket helping to renovate a visitor centre on the River Weaver. But now, with that behind him, he will be looking for a new way to stay out of trouble. One that, presumably, doesn't involve him using his hands.
The Sun
6 days ago
- Politics
- The Sun
Shamed ex-Labour MP Mike Amesbury visits job centre to look for work after quitting £93k post for drunk punch
EX-LABOUR MP Mike Amesbury heads into a job centre after quitting his £93,000-a-year post for drunkenly punching a constituent on a night out. Mr Amesbury — once shadow employment minister — was snapped in Runcorn, Cheshire. 3 3 3 He is looking for work with trade unions or in politics. Updating his CV on LinkedIn, the 56-year-old wrote: 'Hi everyone. I'm seeking a new role and would appreciate your support.' He was sentenced to ten weeks in jail, later suspended, for the assault. The MP, who resigned his Labour membership, previously described the attack as "highly regrettable". Footage showed Amesbury attacking Mr Fellows, who he knew from school, in Cheshire in the early hours of October 26. The court hear the pair had engaged with each other for "several minutes" before the violence erupted at a taxi rank after a night of boozing. His lawyer said Amesbury has experienced"shame and embarrassment" over the attack.
