Karen Shore, Labour candidate for the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, encountered hostility from a voter who slammed the door in her face while expressing dissatisfaction with Labour leader Keir Starmer. The by-election, set for Thursday, is drawing attention amid a charged political climate.
On Tuesday, 29 April, Karen Shore, the Labour candidate for the Runcorn and Helsby by-election in Cheshire, experienced a tense moment while canvassing in the constituency. As she knocked on a resident's door, the occupant responded by slamming the door in Ms Shore’s face. During the brief interaction, the woman expressed her disapproval of the Labour leader, stating she “can’t stand the man,” referring to Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer.
The incident was captured on film by ITV News, highlighting the charged atmosphere surrounding the upcoming by-election. The Runcorn and Helsby by-election is scheduled to take place on Thursday and has attracted a diverse field of candidates. Karen Shore will face challengers including Conservative Sean Houlston, Liberal Democrat Paul Duffy, Green Party candidate Chris Copeman, and Reform Party's Sarah Pochin.
Sir Keir Starmer has acknowledged the difficulty of the election, describing it as “tough,” yet he remains confident in Labour’s position. Speaking about the by-election, he insisted that Labour had “a positive case to tell,” signalling the party’s determination to retain the seat despite the challenging political climate.
The Independent is reporting that tensions among voters and candidates in Runcorn and Helsby reflect a broader national political environment marked by contested loyalties and heated opinions ahead of this closely watched by-election. The results, due later this week, will contribute insights into the current standing of the main political parties in the region.
Source: Noah Wire Services
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative mentions an event happening on Tuesday, 29 April, with the by-election scheduled for Thursday of the same week. This indicates recent and timely reporting. However, without a specific date mentioned in the provided URL or text, the exact freshness is slightly uncertain.
Quotes check
Score:
5
Notes:
There are indirect quotes referencing disapproval towards Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer, but no direct quotes from official sources were verified. The narrative does not provide enough context to trace the original source of these statements.
Source reliability
Score:
9
Notes:
The narrative originates from The Independent, a reputable UK publication known for its reliable reporting.
Plausability check
Score:
9
Notes:
The claims about the Runcorn and Helsby by-election and reactions towards Labour are plausible given the current political climate in the UK. The incident with Karen Shore is consistent with typical interactions during elections.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): HIGH
Summary:
The narrative appears to be timely and based on real events, with a reliable source. While direct quotes were not verified, the context and claims seem plausible within the UK's current political environment.
