By-election news - live: PM loses backing of more Tory MPs after disastrous defeats
Senior Tory MP says PM’s fall from power ‘is now a question of when, not if’
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Boris Johnson’s support among Tory MPs has ebbed to an all-time low after the Conservatives suffered two crushing by-election losses on Thursday.
Following the double defeats in Tiverton and Wakefield, one senior Conservative MP, who backed Mr Johnson in the no-confidence vote earlier this month, told The Independent that they had now changed their mind.
“I voted for Boris last time but I just can’t see any way out of it for him right now,” they said.
“It is now a question of when, not if. The public have made up their minds. We got it wrong in hanging on to John Major in the nineties and we can’t get it wrong a second time with Johnson.”
The former Tory leader Michael Howard has also urged Mr Johnson to step down, while a cabinet minister admitted that “the mood has shifted”.
Their statements came after the Tory party chairman Oliver Dowden resigned, citing the “disappointment” of the public over the Partygate scandal. “Someone must take responsibility,” he said.
Labour ‘rebuilding the red wall’, says Lightwood
Simon Lightwood, the newly elected MP from Wakefield, told reporters Labour was “rebuilding the red wall” and that the biggest issue on the doorstep throughout the campaign had been the cost of living crisis.
Asked what the victory would mean for Sir Keir Starmer’s leadership, he said: “I think it speaks volumes. We are rebuilding the red wall and this is the birthplace of the next Labour government.”
Mr Lightwood added: “We’re rebuilding the trust of the electorate and people are ready for a fresh start. They’re sick of all the lies and deceit of Boris Johnson and we offer that alternative vision.”
Asked whether the success would translate into other red wall seats across the north, he said: “I think we can be certain of that.”
'This result is absolutely staggering' says Foord
Richard Foord, Liberal Democrat winner from Tiverton and Honiton, told The Independent that the party was not expecting a win of this scale.
“This result is absolutely staggering,” he said. “ We weren’t expecting a win, let alone a win of this scale.
“We had noticed that momentum has been shifting from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats over the course of this campaign and particularly over recent days because of the very positive agenda that we were setting out but this is absolutely seismic, we’ve overturned the biggest majority in by election history.
“There is a very clear trend in the Blue Wall constituencies that people are looking at the positive Liberal democrat proposals and voting for the Lib Dems.
“I certainly think that some life long Conservatives couldn’t bear the idea of voting for the Conservative party while it’s lead by Boris Johnson and so in terms of retaining their support, regardless of what happens in the Conservative party internal politics, I will work really very hard to represent every single constituent.”
Labour and Lib Dems urged to work together at general election
Naomi Smith, chief executive of the Best for Britain, campaigning for the anti-Conservative electoral pact, said the majorities at both by-elections “could not have been overturned without tactical voting and an unofficial electoral pact between the opposition parties”.
Urging Keir Starmer and Ed Davey to collaborate, she added: “Labour and the Lib Dems mustn’t rest on their laurels, repeating this success will be much more difficult in a general election. Our polling proves they will need to collaborate to defeat the government.”
Davey: ‘Public sick of Johnson’s lies and law-breaking’
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Ed Davey slammed the Conservatives after his party secured a sweeping win in Tiverton and Honiton.
“The Liberal Democrats have made political history with this stunning win. It is the biggest by-election victory our country has ever seen,” he said.
“This should be a wake-up call for all those Conservative MPs propping up Boris Johnson. They cannot afford to ignore this result.
“The people of Tiverton and Honiton have spoken for the country.
“The public is sick of Boris Johnson’s lies and law-breaking and it’s time for Conservative MPs to finally do the right thing and sack him.”
What next for Boris Johnson after double by-election blow?
Boris Johnson’s authority has suffered a double blow as the Tories suffered humiliating defeats in two parliamentary by-elections.
Here’s a breakdown of what the results from the Wakefield and Tiverton & Honiton by-elections mean for Boris Johnson:
What next for Boris Johnson after double by-election blow?
Boris Johnson’s authority suffers a double blow
Lib Dem winner Richard Foord's victory speech in full
Here is the victory speech from Richard Foord, the newly elected Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Honiton:
Thank you. I’d like to thank the Returning Officer, her staff and my fellow candidates for a well run election and count. To my wife Kate, and our three wonderful children - thank you. I couldn’t have done this without your love.
I’d like to thank my election agent Simon Drage, my incredible campaign team, the local party members and Liberal Democrat supporters here in Tiverton & Honiton, and the thousands of Liberal Democrat campaigners from across the country who came to volunteer with me here in Devon.
Your extraordinary efforts have delivered a historic result and sent a shockwave through British politics. Tonight, the people of Tiverton & Honiton have spoken for Britain. They’ve sent a loud and clear message: It’s time for Boris Johnson to go. And go now.
Ours is a great country and there’s no greater part of it than Devon. But every day Boris Johnson clings to office, he brings further shame, chaos and neglect. Communities like ours are on their knees. Every one of us standing on this stage tonight has heard the pain people are suffering as the cost of living crisis starts to bite.
Yet when Boris Johnson could be fighting for farmers, for our NHS and for rural services, he’ll be fighting once again to save his own skin. I also have a simple message for those Conservative MPs propping up this failing Prime Minister: The Liberal Democrats are coming.
If you don’t take action to restore decency, respect and British values to Downing Street, you too will face election defeats like the one we have seen here tonight. It is time to do what’s right for our country. You know in your heart that your leader is not the person to lead this great nation into the future.
Across the country, the Liberal Democrats are taking on the Conservatives and winning. Thousands of lifelong Conservative voters, appalled by Boris Johnson’s lies and fed up with being taken for granted.
Thousands of Labour voters, choosing to lend their votes to the candidate with the best chance of beating the Conservatives. Thousands of people who believe our politics should be about building a better life for everyone, not a daily parade of self-serving chaos. All of them, voting for the Liberal Democrats.
These are difficult times for our country. The cost of living crisis - as we know here in Devon - is hitting hard: people forced to choose between filling up their car, or putting food on the table.
Our local NHS is teetering on the brink. Our rural economy is in a precarious state with people’s livelihoods at risk. Our country is crying out for leadership.
I served as an officer in the British Army for 10 years Mr Johnson. I can tell you that leadership means acting with decency and integrity. It means keeping your word. It means setting an example and putting other people’s needs before your own. I served alongside friends who personified these values, and laid down their lives in service of their country.
And yet your behaviour Mr Johnson, makes a mockery of leadership. By any measure, you are unfit to lead. The people of Tiverton & Honiton have told you tonight that enough is enough. They demand a change. The only decent course of action left open to you is to heed their call and resign.
I want to pay tribute to Ed Davey. Ed, thanks to you the Liberal Democrats are taking on Boris Johnson across the blue wall and winning. From Chesham & Amersham to North Shropshire to here in Tiverton & Honiton.
You believed from the start that this result was possible. You rallied our troops and led from the front. Whether it is on the streets of Seaton or Bampton, Honiton or Branscombe, Axminster or Tiverton, you have led the charge for change.
But finally, and most importantly of all, thank you to the people of Tiverton & Honiton, and everyone in our part of Devon. For your support throughout this campaign. For putting your faith in me to be your champion in Parliament.
As your local MP, I promise I will work tirelessly for you. I will always put local people and our communities first. Whether you supported me or supported someone else, I want to let you know, I’m here to represent you and to stand up for everyone in Tiverton & Honiton. I will never take you for granted.
‘County has lost confidence in the Tories,’ says Starmer
Following the win in Wakefield, Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said that the results “has shown the country has lost confidence in the Tories”.
This result is a clear judgement on a Conservative Party that has run out of energy and ideas.
“Britain deserves better. Wakefield has voted Labour because we have the solutions for the challenges facing the British people.
“The Labour Party is back on the side of working people, winning seats where we lost before, and ready for government.”
‘You are unfit to lead’: Foord slams Johnson after by-election results
Former army major Richard Foord, speaking after the sweeping victory for Liberal Democrats in Tiverton and Honiton by-election, says that the “historic result has sent a shockwave through British politics”.
The people of Tiverton and Honiton have sent a loud and clear message... It’s time for Boris Johnson to go.
“Our country is crying out for leadership, I served as an officer in the British army for ten years, Mr Johnson, and I can tell you that acting in leadership means acting with integrity.
“Your behaviour Mr Johnson, makes a mockery of leadership. By any measure, you are unfit to lead.”
BREAKING
The Liberal Democrats have swept to victory in the Tiverton and Honiton by-election in a crushing defeat for Boris Johnson’s Conservative party.
Former army major Richard Foord managed to overturn a gargantuan margin of 24,239 votes to become the Liberal Democrats fourteenth MP. His historic victory is the first time since the seat was created in 1997 that Tiverton and Honiton has not been blue.
Read more below:
Lib Dem victory in Tiverton and Honiton by-election deals blow to Boris Johnson
The Liberal Democrats have swept to victory in the Tiverton and Honiton by-election in a crushing defeat for Boris Johnson’s Conservative party.
BREAKING
Labour has won the Wakefield by-election, taking back the red wall seat won by the Tories in 2019.
Read more here:
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