Reform UK has accused Labour of trying to “deceive” voters after their by-election candidate began campaigning to close a local asylum hotel despite previously “warmly welcoming” Afghan and Syrian refugees.
Karen Shone, who is aiming to replace Mike Amesbury as the MP for Runcorn and Helsby, launched an online petition this week to shut the local asylum hotel, going on to state this was one of her “priorities”.
But Nigel Farage’s party said that during her time as deputy leader of Cheshire West and Chester council in 2021, Ms Shone told how the local authority was “warmly welcoming” to asylum seekers.
A spokesman for Reform UK said: “A record 26,000 illegal migrants have crossed the English Channel since Labour came to power in July 2025.
“Karen Shore proudly declared that she was ‘warmly welcoming’ asylum seekers yet now she is trying to deceive the voters of Runcorn and Helsby.
“Karen Shore has a history of boasting about providing fully decorated and furnished accommodation for asylum seekers. Karen and Labour cannot be trusted.
“Deport and close the hotels – that’s our plan, Labour doesn’t have one as evidenced by the independent borders watchdog today.”
The first poll of Runcorn and Helsby voters since Mr Amesbury announced he would quit as an MP showed Reform is on track to beat Labour, overturning its 35-point lead at the general election.
Amesbury quit as an MP after he was handed a suspended prison sentence for punching a constituent in the street.
A spokesman for Ms Shore said: “This is about fairness. The Government is fixing a broken system left behind by the Conservatives, leaving genuine refugees in limbo, unable to rebuild their lives, while those with no right to be here are being subsidised by the taxpayer.
“That’s not fair for anyone. Nobody should be living like this. We need a system which provides dignity and security, that’s what Labour are providing by fixing the system.”