RISHI Sunak suffered two crushing by-election blows today as Labour pulled off historic swings to win Tamworth and Mid-Bedfordshire.
Sir Keir Starmer hailed the results as a sign that “people overwhelmingly want change” and are “ready to put faith in our changed Labour to deliver it”.
AFPLabour’s Alistair Strathern delivers a victory speech after winning the Mid-Bedfordshire by-election[/caption]
PAHe was cheered on by emotional Labour supporters, including his partner Megan Corton-Scott (left)[/caption]
PAIn Tamworth Sarah Edwards is declared the constituency’s new MP. The seat was vacated following the resignation of disgraced Chris Pincher[/caption]
Tory Greg Hands said his party should “reflect” on the circumstances leading up to the mega defeats.
He told Times Radio: “I don’t see any enthusiasm for Labour but clearly there’s been a lot of, if you like, background circumstances in those two by-elections that have also made the job difficult for us.
“But clearly we need to reflect on that and we need to continue to deliver against our priorities and make sure that people see that Rishi Sunak is doing a very good job as Prime Minister.”
In Tamworth Sarah Edwards defeated Conservative candidate Andrew Cooper by 1,316 votes – overturning a huge 19,600 majority.
Mr Cooper rushed to the exit of the town’s Rawlett School just before the final result was announced and was missing on stage as Ms Edwards was named winner.
In Mid-Beds, Labour’s Alistair Strathern beat Local Police and Crime Commissioner Festus Akinbusoye to overturn former minister Nadine Dorries‘ 24,000 majority.
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It is the largest numerical Tory majority to be overturned at a by-election since 1945.
A jubilant Sir Keir said: “These are phenomenal results that show Labour is back in the service of working people and redrawing the political map.
“Winning in these Tory strongholds shows that people overwhelmingly want change and they’re ready to put their faith in our changed Labour Party to deliver it.
“To those who have given us their trust, and those considering doing so, Labour will spend every day acting in your interests and focused on your priorities. Labour will give Britain its future back.”
Shadow Minister Peter Kyle, who headed up Labour’s Mid-Beds campaign, said the party had delivered a “political earthquake”.
“This is the biggest by-election shock in history,” he said.
“It is a political earthquake and it is one that is sending an unignorable message to Westminster and to Rishi Sunak that this country deserves better.”
In a message to the PM following his victory, Mr Strathern demanded: “Get in your government car, drive to Buckingham Palace, do the decent thing and call a general election.”
Polling supremo Professor Sir John Curtice described the results as “extremely bad news” for the Tories, adding Rishi Sunak is on course for defeat at the next General Election.
He said: “This isn’t destiny, but it is a pointer and it is a pointer that, unless the Conservatives can fairly dramatically and fairly radically turn things around, then they are in truth staring defeat in the face in 12 months’ time.
“We’re not looking at ordinary by-election losses, we’re looking at exceptional swings for which only real precedent is not very happy for Conservatives.”
Sir John warned the Tories risked losing voters to both Labour on the left and Reform UK on the right.
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Today’s results take the total number of by-elections the Tories have lost since the 2019 General Election to eight.
The party has held on to three seats and gained one – Hartlepool.
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