Labour Celebrates Double By-Election Blow to Rishi Sunak, Overturning Huge Conservative Majorities
Labour is celebrating a significant victory after dealing a double blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak in the recent by-elections. The party managed to overturn huge Conservative majorities in both Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire, leading to claims of a "political earthquake" and the redrawing of the political map. These results are viewed as significant markers ahead of the general election expected next year.
In Tamworth, the Conservatives were defending a massive 19,600 majority. However, a swing of 23.9 percentage points to Labour saw that majority eradicated. The result, declared in the early hours of the morning, was the second-highest-ever by-election swing to Labour. In Mid Bedfordshire, Labour managed to overturn the largest numeric Tory majority at a by-election since 1945. The Conservatives had held this rural seat since 1931, winning with a majority of 24,664 in 2019.
The by-elections were triggered by the high-profile departures of the previous MPs from the areas. In Tamworth, Chris Pincher resigned following allegations of groping two men at London's exclusive Carlton Club. This incident added to the pressure on Prime Minister Boris Johnson, eventually leading to his exit from No. 10. In Mid Bedfordshire, former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries resigned in anger after being denied a peerage in the resignation honours list.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer hailed these victories as phenomenal results that demonstrate Labour's commitment to serving working people and bringing about change. He expressed that winning these Tory strongholds indicates the public's overwhelming desire for change and their faith in the reformed Labour Party to deliver it.
While the Tories sought to downplay the significance of these defeats, claiming they were mid-term blips exacerbated by the difficulties surrounding the previous MPs, election expert Professor Sir John Curtice warned that these results were extremely bad news for the Conservatives. He suggested that unless the party can dramatically turn things around, they are staring defeat in the face in the upcoming general election. Curtice also highlighted the risk of votes drifting to Labour on the left and Reform UK on the right, further threatening Conservative prospects.
The victorious Labour candidates, Sarah Edwards in Tamworth and Alistair Strathern in Mid Bedfordshire, used their victory speeches to call for a general election. Edwards urged Rishi Sunak to "do the decent thing" and allow the people to decide, while Strathern emphasized that no area is off-limits for the Labour Party.
The Liberal Democrats, who had hoped to win in Mid Bedfordshire, came third in the race. However, they remained positive about the result, doubling their vote share and suggesting that their performance could translate into winning dozens of seats off the Conservatives in a general election.
Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who was abroad during the by-election, spent the night in Saudi Arabia on a tour of the Middle East. The results, announced on the anniversary of his predecessor Liz Truss's resignation, present a challenge for Sunak as he completes his first year in office.
Overall, these by-election victories for Labour have shaken the political landscape, demonstrating that no seat is safe for the Conservatives. They highlight the public's demand for change and set the stage for a highly competitive general election in the coming year.
