Reform UK win fifth seat after recount gives them majority of just NINETY EIGHT votes

James McMurdock

James McMurdock won the seat with a majority of just 98 votes after the recount

Reform UK
James Saunders

By James Saunders


Published: 05/07/2024

- 17:27

Updated: 05/07/2024

- 17:54

The Basildon South and East Thurrock MP will join Nigel Farage, Lee Anderson, Richard Tice and Rupert Lowe in Parliament

Reform UK have won a fifth seat in the General Election after a recount in the Basildon South and East Thurrock constituency.

James McMurdock won the seat with a majority of just 98 votes from Labour candidate Jack Ferguson.


McMurdock adds to an historic Westminster tally for Reform - he joins Nigel Farage, Lee Anderson, Richard Tice and Rupert Lowe in Parliament.

Reacting to the news, party leader Farage said: "Our candidate, James McMurdock, was a paper candidate drafted in at the last minute - former City boy - and he was absolutely neck-and-neck with Labour in the seat.

"I rang him up earlier... I said: 'Look, phone your agent, find out what's happening,' because they were on the third recount.

"He said: 'I haven't got an agent - I'm my own agent' - I said: 'Well, who's in the hall watching the vote count?' - he said: 'My mum and dad!'

"He's won - he's an MP! Go on my son!"

McMurdock, following the recount, was confirmed to have taken the seat from the Tories - unhorsing Stephen Metcalfe, who won with an overwhelming 65.4 per cent of the vote in 2019.

MORE AS REFORM MAKE HISTORIC GAINS:

James McMurdockJames McMurdock won the seat with a majority of just 98 votes after the recountReform UK

His - and Farage's - victories in Essex contribute to a night of humiliation for the Conservatives in an area considered Tory heartland since the days of Margaret Thatcher.

In total, the party lost eight seats in the county - with Labour taking five, Reform two, and the Lib Dems one.

After recounts came to a close, McMurdock received 12,178 votes - just edging out Labour's Jack Ferguson with 12,080.

The new MP said: "It’s an absolute privilege and the gravity of responsibility is not lost on me."

Another video of Farage reacting to the news with glee has made the rounds on social media, with the party leader grinning as he takes a call from McMurdock.

Farage can be heard telling his party's fifth MP: "Well, all I can tell you now, as an elected politician, is that your life is ruined completely - congratulations!"

The Reform leader immediately began laying plans for introducing his party's youngest Parliamentarian to the press.

Farage said: "You just calm down for a bit... I'll be with you at 10am in whichever you think is the best, busiest thoroughfare, we'll tell all the media, we'll go for a walkabout and we'll have a lot of fun. Well done mate."

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