Labour’s Alistair Strathern and Sarah Edwards cruised to victory in the seats of Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth, overturning Tory majorities of nearly 25,000 and 20,000, respectively…reports Asian Lite News
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s ruling Conservative Party has lost two safe parliamentary seats in a bellwether vote ahead of the next general election.
The centre-left Labour Party easily won the two central England seats up for grabs in by-elections held on Thursday, in an ominous sign for the Conservatives’ prospects in national elections expected next year.
Labour’s Alistair Strathern and Sarah Edwards cruised to victory in the seats of Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth, overturning Tory majorities of nearly 25,000 and 20,000, respectively.
The governing Tories had held Mid Bedfordshire since 1931, and Tamworth since 1996.
George Osborne, a former Conservative chancellor, earlier warned that the loss of Mid-Bedfordshire would mean “Armageddon” for the centre-right party.
Labour leader Keir Starmer hailed the wins as proof of the public’s desire for new leadership.
“These are phenomenal results. 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,” Starmer said.
Labour has enjoyed a double-digit polling lead over the Conservatives for more than a year as voters fume over high inflation, a weak economy and long waiting times to use the state-run health service.
Facing flagging support in the polls, Sunak has announced a number of major policy shifts, including scrapping part of a costly high-speed rail link and watering down measures aimed at helping the UK achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
The policy announcements have done little to improve the Tories’ standing in the polls, although Sunak’s personal approval has improved slightly.
During their more than 13 years in power, the Conservatives have led the UK through some of its most significant events in decades, including Brexit and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Sunak, the fifth Tory leader since 2010, was not in the UK for the by-election results after travelling to Israel to express support for the country in its war with the armed Palestinian group Hamas.
Speaking specifically about the Tamworth result to the BBC, British election wizard John Curtice said “no government has hitherto lost to the principal opposition party in a by-election a seat as safe as Tamworth.”
Speaking on both the results, Curtice told the BBC that we are seeing the “top 10 of worst Conservative performances against the Labour Party.”
With a general election predicted at some point late next year, Curtice warned against taking these results as a direct temperature check. “This isn’t destiny, but it is a pointer … Unless the Conservatives can fairly dramatically and radically turn things around, then they are in truth staring defeat in the face in 12 months’ time,” he said.
Former Theresa May pollster James Johnson, of JL Partners, said London Playbook it is “close to the worst case” for the Conservatives.
Following the results, 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.”
Shadow minister Peter Kyle, who ran Labour’s campaign in Mid Bedfordshire, said the party had delivered a “political earthquake” for Sunak and the Conservatives.
And Tory peer Lord Cruddas, an ally of former PM Boris Johnson, said “clearly Rishi Sunak isn’t working as leader of our party”. The ex-party treasurer said, “Local council elections, by-elections defeats everywhere. Rishi’s record is dire and Tories are heading for electoral disaster under Sunak. Things need to change starting at the top.”
But despite the scale of the defeats, one minister denied his party had to change tack. Andrew Bowie told Sky News there was “always room for improvement” but the government was “on the right course”.
The shock by-election results saw Labour win Mid Bedfordshire for the first time after an unusually long contest sparked by the resignation of Nadine Dorries.
The former culture secretary quit in protest after not being awarded a peerage in ally Boris Johnson’s resignation honours, but delayed the formal process of resigning for 12 weeks.
Strathern was announced as Labour’s candidate just days later and has been campaigning in the seat ever since. He said his victory in the Mid Bedfordshire by-election had “made history” and sent a “resounding message”.
Giving his victory speech, the newest Labour MP said: “Tonight residents across Mid Bedfordshire have made history, after decades of being taken for granted, feeling left behind, being under-represented, they made a decision it was time for a change. Nowhere is off limits for this Labour Party and tonight’s result proves it.”
Speaking after her victory in Tamworth, Edwards called on Rishi Sunak to “do the decent thing and call a general election”. She said: “The people of Tamworth have voted for Labour’s positive vision and a fresh start. They’ve sent a clear message to Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives that they have had enough of this failed Government, which has crashed the economy and destroyed our public services.”
ALSO READ-