By-elections latest: Boris Johnson blamed for Sunak’s ‘armageddon’ defeat in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire

Labour could be on course for an even bigger landslide than the one seen under Tony Blair under 1997, polling guru says

Mid-Bedfordshire and Tamworth by-elections: Key statistics

Sir Keir Starmer has cast himself the heir to Blair after a historic Tory by-election drubbing in which he jubilantly declared Labour was “redrawing the political map”.

The Labour leader said that Tory voters were turning to them because they were “fed up with the decline and despairing of the party they used to vote for”.

The Tories are now staring down the barrel of an unprecedented wipeout after suffering defeats in two fiercely contested by-elections, with huge majorities evaporating overnight following a disastrous few years in which the party has seemingly stumbled from one crisis to another.

Starmers remarks came as polling guru John Curtice said Boris Johnson and Liz Truss were largely to blame for the crushing defeat.

Overturning the biggest majority in British by-election history, Labour took Mid Bedfordshire from the Tories for the first time.

While in Tamworth, the party saw the second biggest swing from the Tories to Labour in a by-election in post-war history.

Meanwhile, former chancellor George Osborne warned the record defeats spell “armageddon” for the Conservatives at the general election.

Key points

• Labour secure dramatic by-election victory in Tamworth
• Huge blow for Rishi Sunak as Labour snatch by-election win in Mid Bedfordshire
• Labour will give 'Britain its future back', says Sir Keir Starmer
• Alistair Strathern and Sarah Edwards overturn key Conservative seats
• Labour could produce bigger landslide than 1997 says polling guru

[20 October 2023 01:33 · Archie Mitchell]

The Lib Dems think Labour have won, it appears the Tories do too...

The Liberal Democrats think Labour have won the Mid Bedfordshire by-election, and Tories on the ground seem to think so too.

A source outside the counting hall said the Liberal Democrats were not wrong to say Labour are on top, but stressed the result would be “close” and was not a reflection of national trends.

[20 October 2023 00:52 · Archie Mitchell]

The Liberal Democrats think Labour have won it

The Liberal Democrats think they have helped Labour over the line in Mid Bedfordshire.

A party source said candidate Emma Holland-Lindsay has managed to double the Lib Dems’ vote share compared with the 2019 general election - at the expense of Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives.

The source called the by-election for Labour, saying it has been a “bad night” for the Tories.

They said the party saw a “path to victory” ahead of the contest, but door-knocking on the final day of the campaign suggested a surge in support for Labour in towns and a collapse in support for the Conservatives in the county’s villages.

[20 October 2023 00:50 · Archie Mitchell]

Voter turnout in Mid Bedfordshire: 44 per cent

After a rainy day in Mid Bedfordshire, voter turnout was 44 per cent, a major drop from 73.7 per cent at the 2019 general election.

[20 October 2023 00:37 · Archie Mitchell]

Voter turnout in Tamworth: 35.94 per cent

Voter turnout in the Tamworth by-election was 35.94 per cent, a significant drop from 64.3 per cent at the 2019 general election.

[19 October 2023 23:50 · Archie Mitchell]

The count at the Mid Bedfordshire by-election is in full swing, with results expected by around 1.30am.

Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives have all sought to downplay expectations in the seat - which is expected to be a close fought three-way battle.

(Independent)

[19 October 2023 23:35 · Archie Mitchell]

Liberal Democrats: ‘Voters are disappointed with the government… and Nadine Dorries’

The Liberal Democrats have said Mid Bedfordshire voters are disappointed in Rishi Sunak’s government - and the conduct of former MP Nadine Dorries.

Party spokesman Christine Jardine said the biggest issue that has come up on the doorstep has been the shortage of GPs.

But the Edinburgh West MP said voters are also expressing “general dissatisfaction of the government” and are “disappointed” in Ms Dorries.

“Rishi Sunak, the cabinet and everybody in the government don’t really seem to understand the problems that people are facing, they are a  little bit out of touch, very touch actually,” Ms Jardine told The Independent.