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
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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.
In pictures: Labour candidate Alistair Strathern celebrates winning the Mid Bedfordshire by-election
Labour secure dramatic by-election victory in Tamworth
Labour has dealt a blow to Rishi Sunak by overturning a Tory majority of almost 20,000 in Tamworth.
With the potential for a historic by-election gain in Mid Bedfordshire where votes are still being counted, Labour could double the pain for the Prime Minister.
In Tamworth, Labour’s Sarah Edwards defeated Tory Andrew Cooper by a majority of 1,316.
The Conservatives were defending a 19,600 majority, but a 23.9 percentage point swing to Labour saw that eradicated.
It was the second highest ever by-election swing to Labour.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “This is a phenomenal result that shows Labour is back in the service of working people and redrawing the political map.
“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.”
Huge blow for Rishi Sunak as Labour snatch by-election win in Mid Bedfordshire
Rishi Sunak faced a major blow as Labour snatched victory in the Mid Bedfordshire by-election.
Overturning the biggest majority in British by-election history, Sir Keir Starmer’s party has taken the blue wall sea from the Tories for the first time.
Nadine Dorries won the seat in 2019 with a majority of 24,664, and the Conservatives have held Mid Bedfordshire since 1931.
But, with Labour enjoying a significant poll lead nationally and local outrage at Ms Dorries’ resignation this summer, Mr Sunak’s party lost the seat.
My colleague Archie Mitchell reports:
Huge blow for Rishi Sunak as Labour snatch by-election win in Mid Bedfordshire
Sir Keir Starmer’s party has taken the blue wall sea from the Tories for the first time
Statistics from latest by-election
The swing from the Conservatives to Labour in Tamworth was 23.9 percentage points.
This is larger than the swing Labour achieved at the Selby & Ainsty by-election in July, which was 23.7 points.
It is also the second-largest swing managed by Labour at a by-election since 1945.
The highest was at the Dudley West by-election in December 1994, which was 29.1 points.
In video: Key statistic from Mid-Bedfordshire and Tamworth by-elections
Sir Keir Starmer: 'Labour is back'
Sir Keir Starmer has hailed a shock win in Tamworth as evidence the party is “back... and redrawing the political map”.
Reacting to the results, the Labour leader said: “This is a phenomenal result that shows Labour is back in the service of working people and redrawing the political map.
“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.”
‘We have turned the page on Tory neglect’
Tamworth’s newly elected Labour MP Sarah Edwards issued a statement after her win in a previously Tory majority constituency.
“Tonight we have turned the page on Tory neglect and delivered a fresh start for Tamworth and our villages,” said Ms Edwards.
In a message to her electorate, she said: “I know a lot of you have voted Labour for the first time and I will not let you down.
“I’ve spoken to many people in this campaign and the same conversation has been repeated: people feel worse off after 13 years of the Conservatives and don’t feel like the government have a plan to address the big issues that face our country.”
She added: “My message to the prime minister is get in your government car, drive to Buckingham Palace, do the decent thing and call a general election.”
Tamworth's new Labour MP: 'It's time for change'
Tamworth’s new MP Sarah Edwards said: “Tonight 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.
“The people of Tamworth have made it clear. It’s time for change.”
Labour’s Sarah Edwards has arrived at the count in Tamworth
Labour’s candidate Sarah Edwards has arrived at the by-election count in Tamworth, with results expected soon.
Local Democracy Reporter Richard Price reports Labour has won, with a majority of around 1,000 votes.
Labour: ‘We don’t know… but it has been a good night’
Labour’s campaign manager in Mid Bedfordshire has said he does not know the result, but that it has been “a good night” for the party.
Peter Kyle, who has been campaigning in the safe Tory seat for months, said it is “clear Labour is doing very well”.
“This was always a moonshot for us, this campaign,” Mr Kyle told the BBC.
And he added: “If we did win this it would be the biggest buyer election shock in history… and would be a devastating blow to Rishi Sunak.”
And Mr Kyle lashed out at the Liberal Democrats, who have risked splitting the vote and handing Mid Bedfordshire back to the Tories, saying: “We have learned during this campaign is the Liberal Democrats don't know how to add up.”
He was referring to the Liberal Democrats’ use of leaflets which critics have described as misleading.
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