Labour has taken Blackpool South from the Conservatives in a by-election as Sir Keir Starmer’s party makes gains in polls across England. Sir Keir said the Blackpool result – a massive 26% swing to Labour – sent “a direct message” to Rishi Sunak from voters that “we want change”.
The Tories were expected to have a bad night at local council elections and so far have lost around half the seats they were defending.
Many results are still to come.Speaking in Blackpool, Sir Keir said it was a “seismic win” and “the most important result of the night”.
He said: “That wasn’t just a little message, that wasn’t just a murmur, that was a shout from Blackpool – we want change. And Blackpool speaks for the whole country – it’s saying that we’ve had enough now.”
Elsewhere, only a third of the 107 councils holding elections have declared results and counting is continuing, or just beginning, in many of the police and crime commissioner races and the mayoral contests.
The Conservatives are hoping Tees Valley mayor Lord Ben Houchen will retain his position, with the result expected after mid-day. Most other mayoral results – including London, where Labour’s Sadiq Khan is aiming to win a third term – will come on Saturday.Labour will be pleased to have regained control of key council targets Hartlepool, Thurrock, Rushmoor and Redditch – areas where they are aiming to win at the general election later this year.
But, there is evidence in areas with a significant Muslim population that Labour’s stance on Gaza is hurting the party.
In Oldham, where two Labour councillors quit the party over Gaza earlier this year, Labour lost control of the council.
Labour MP Pat McFadden, the party’s national campaign coordinator, admitted “strong feelings” around the Middle East were “a factor” in the losses, adding: “I don’t think there’s any point denying that – it does get raised”.
Reform UK is doing well in the areas where it has fielded candidates – and nearly beat the Tories into second place in Blackpool South.The by-election in Blackpool South was triggered by the resignation of former Conservative MP Scott Benton, who was suspended from the party after being caught in a lobbying sting.
Labour candidate Chris Webb overturned a majority of 3,690 to defeat Conservative David Jones in the constituency, which was previously held by Labour from 1997 to 2019. The swing of 26% from the Tories to Labour was the third biggest in a by-election since 1945.
Conservative Party chairman Richard Holden described the local election results so far as “disappointing” and said his party needed to start talking about their successes and “vision for the future”.
Despite a general election expected to be called in the next six months or so, he told BBC Breakfast: “Overall a disappointing night for us but that’s what you’d expect from parties in midterm of government.
Source: BBC
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