Former Conservative Party chairman Sir Jake Berry has predicted that Reform UK could secure victory in the upcoming Runcorn by-election, following MP Mike Amesbury’s imprisonment.
Speaking to GB News, Berry hit out at the Labour MP and claimed that if he “had a spine”, he would “resign”.
Berry said: “It’s right that he’s been sent to prison because members of parliament, just like police officers, should be held to a higher standard in terms of their behaviour in public life.
“If this man had any spine or believed in the people of Runcorn and Helsby, he would resign tonight.”
Jake Berry claimed the Tories will not ‘stand aside’ and let Reform UK claim Runcorn if a by-election is called
PA / GB News
Amesbury was sentenced to 10 weeks imprisonment at Chester Magistrates’ Court on Monday for assaulting a man in Frodsham in late 2024.
The former Tory Party chairman acknowledged that while the Conservatives would contest the seat, he believes “this is probably Reform’s to win.”
Berry explained: “The Conservative party won’t stand aside in a major by-election, nor should it be expected to. But I think this is probably Reform’s to win.
“In the last Parliament, we saw massive upsets. Nadine Dorries’s old constituency fell to the Labour Party with a huge Conservative majority. Selby & Ainsty in Yorkshire fell to the Labour Party with a huge Conservative majority.
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Mike Amesbury was slapped with a 10-week prison sentence for punching a man in the street in a late-night bust-upPA“The Conservative Party don’t have to stand aside for Reform to win this, Reform can be the Lib Dem by-election comeback kids of this parliament.”
Berry also raised significant concerns about taxpayer funds continuing to be paid to the imprisoned MP.
“If he’s in for the full 10 weeks, which he could be – he could behave badly and have another fight, he will get £11,000 or £12,000 of taxpayers’ cash in salary while he is in prison,” Berry told GB News.
“How can he serve his constituents from prison? He’s not even allowed a mobile phone. They can’t contact him,” Berry added.
Berry told GB News that Reform UK could become the ‘comeback kids’ of by-elections
GB News
He called on Labour to urge their former MP to step down, stating “it is for his former party to come out and call for him to resign, because it’s the right thing to.”
Berry warned that the recall petition process could be significantly delayed due to potential appeals.
“This recall petition, which is where local people get together, it’s six weeks only after you’ve exhausted all the appeals,” he said.
“So Mike Amesbury could be appealing this for six months, 12 months, getting paid, getting his London flat paid for, getting all his transport paid for.”
Berry concluded: “If this, one of the top 20 safest Labour seats in the country goes to Reform, you’re going to be worried and questioning what Keir Starmer is doing.”