Devastating by-election losses for Tories as Starmer aims for decade in power
ITV News Political Correspondent Harry Horton reports on the huge blow dealt to Rishi Sunak's Conservatives by Keir Starmer's Labour Party
Words by Lewis Denison, Westminster Producer
Labour has overturned two huge Conservative majorities to win by-elections in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire, in a terrible result for Rishi Sunak, with Sir Keir Starmer lauding a "phenomenal" set of results.
Tamworth is thought to be safest seat ever lost by a government at a by-election, while the result in Mid Bedfordshire represents the largest Labour mid-term victory over the Tories since 1945.
Sir Keir said he is now hoping to win the next general election and stay in Number 10 for at least a decade, after Tory voters were "fed up with the decline and despairing at the party they used to vote for".
The Labour leader said: "We accept that victory humbly and go on from here to make that case across the country to usher out 13 years of decline and bring in a Labour government and a decade, I hope, of national renewal."
The prime minister, meanwhile, looked to blame "local factors" for the results, saying "mid-term elections are always difficult for incumbent governments".
ITV News Deputy Political Editor Anushka Asthana takes a look at what the results could mean for both the Conservatives and Labour ahead of a probable general election in 2024
Labour wiped out the huge majority 24,664 won by ex-culture secretary Nadine Dorries in Mid Bedfordshire, with Alistair Strathern taking a 1,192 majority to become the new MP there.
In Tamworth - which was the second largest Labour swing at a by-election since 1945 - new MP Sarah Edwards overturned a massive majority of 19,634 to win in a 23.9% swing to Labour, with a margin of 1,316 votes.
Tory candidate Andrew Cooper made a swift exit after the result was announced in Tamworth, with his Labour opponent saying the move had shown his "true colours".
Conservative former minister Andrea Jenkyns said the governing party would need to make "far reaching major changes now" in order to bring voters back.
But Mr Sunak and Conservative Party chairman Greg Hands sought to downplay the results, with the former telling broadcasters he is still "committed to delivering on the priorities of the British people".
"Obviously disappointing results, not least because our candidates Festus [Akinbusoye] and Andrew [Cooper] worked very hard, and I know they'll continue to be great local champions in their communities," the prime minister said.
"It is important to remember the context - mid-term elections are always difficult for incumbent governments. And of course there are also local factors at play here."
Rishi Sunak told broadcasters that 'local factors' were at play for the by-election defeats
Education secretary Gillian Keegan said similar, claiming the results had not shown a swing to Labour.
"By-elections are always tricky particularly for serving governments, but it is disappointing," she told ITV News, adding: "There was no real love for Labour, people stayed at home."
"If you look at the details, this did not show a swing to Labour, it showed Conservative voters not coming out."
The by-elections were sparked after ex-minister Chris Pincher resigned after being suspended from Parliament over groping allegations, while Ms Dorries quit after claiming to have been blocked from entering the House of Lords by the prime minister.
Responding to the Tamworth defeat, a Conservative spokesperson said: "This is a difficult result on much-reduced turnout.
"But it's important to see it in context. The government of the day rarely wins by-elections and there were specific reasons around the nature of the departure of the previous MP."
While it is correct that by-elections are rarely won by the governing party and they present a good chance for voters to show dissatisfaction - which may not be reflected at a general election - for Labour these results show they really could be on the path back to power.
After beating the SNP at a recent byelection in Rutherglen & Hamilton West in Scotland - a nation vital for any Labour government - and the July win in Selby & Ainsty, the party will feel momentum is on its side.
Can the Tories avoid electoral wipeout next year? ITV News elections expert Colin Rallings takes a look:
As ITV News Deputy Political Editor Anushka Asthana says, many of the signs from recent by-elections are pointing toward a 1997-style landslide for Labour.
Sir Keir said: "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.
"Voters across Mid Bedfordshire, Tamworth and Britain want a Labour government determined to deliver for working people, with a proper plan to rebuild our country.
"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."
Later, speaking in Mid Bedfordshire, he added: "We take this incredible victory humbly. We know that voters here have voted for us and they've put their trust and their confidence in a changed Labour Party, and we will repay them for that trust and confidence."
He went on: "The party of the future, the party of national renewal to reject the decline of the last 13 years, is this changed Labour Party.”
Is Labour doing enough to win back its old voters? It appears so, writes Political Correspondent Harry Horton in Tamworth
These by-election results are fantastic for Labour and a disaster for the Tories.
Both Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire were in the top 100 safest Conservative seats at the last election. Both saw swings of greater than 20% to Labour last night.
The results will worry Conservative MPs everywhere. In rural, affluent Mid Bedfordshire, Tory voters appear to have deserted the party. In red-wall Tamworth, which backed Brexit by a big margin, there is evidence of voters switching to Labour.
The result in Tamworth in particular has left Labour strategists feeling buoyant, and Tories looking gloomy. "The road to No 10 runs through the West Midlands," said Labour's campaign manager in Tamworth, Steph Peacock MP.
This seat is full of exactly the sort of voters Labour has lost over the last decade and needs to win back if it's to secure a majority at the next general election. And on last night's evidence, Labour is doing that.
As pointed out by elections guru, professor Sir John Curtice, Tamworth is the safest seat lost by any governing party - ever.
The Reform Party, which didn't stand here in 2019, managed to pick up 5% of the vote.
The 1,373 votes it won is greater than Labour's majority, and shows the Conservative Party is losing voters to the right and to the left.
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