Sarah Joanne Pochin (née Hyde; born June 1969) is a British politician who has served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Runcorn and Helsby since May 2025. She is notable for being the first woman elected to the House of Commons representing Reform UK.

Political Career

Pochin’s political trajectory began at the local level in Cheshire. She served as a Conservative councillor before sitting as an independent member and eventually joining Reform UK. She also held the position of Mayor of Cheshire East and served as a Justice of the Peace (JP).

In 2025, she gained national attention during the Runcorn and Helsby by-election, which was triggered by the resignation of Labour MP Mike Amesbury following an assault conviction. In one of the closest contests in modern British history, Pochin overturned Labour’s previous majority of approximately 14,700 votes to win by a margin of just six votes. This result marked the smallest victory margin in a post-war British by-election.

Role in Reform UK Controversies

As one of only two female MPs for Reform UK, Pochin featured prominently in an ITV undercover investigation released in late 2026 regarding the party’s internal culture. The footage captured her criticizing senior party officials, describing them as “so fucking chauvinistic” and stating that they “just exclude you if you are a woman.” These comments emerged alongside other revelations about alleged racist remarks made by Reform candidates and leadership disputes within the party concerning the handling of extremist views among its members.