Labour has taken Tamworth from the Conservatives in a historic by-election victory for Sir Keir Starmer’s party.
The seat in Staffordshire has been held by the Tories since 2010, with the last election seeing the party secure a majority of almost 20,000.
Politics Live: Keir Starmer hails ‘phenomenal result’ after record-breaking by-election win
But it was left vacant by former deputy chief whip Chris Pincher, who quit parliament in disgrace after losing his appeal against a suspension from the Commons following groping allegations.
Labour’s win is the largest Conservative percentage majority overturned by the party at a by-election since 1945.
The swing from the Conservatives to Labour is 23.9% – the second biggest since 1945.
Labour candidate Sarah Edwards won 11,719 votes compared to Conservative Andy Cooper’s 10,403 – giving her a majority of 1,316.
Mr Cooper was ushered out of a side door of the count seconds after his defeat was confirmed, with Tory staff blocking the exit as he did so – something Ms Edwards described as “disappointing”.
In her victory speech she called on embattled Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to “do the decent thing and call a general election”.
She 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.”
Ms Edwards’s victory was coupled with a Labour win in Mid Bedfordshire, which also saw a huge Tory majority overturned.
Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said the results show Labour “is back in the service of working people and redrawing the political map”.
Labour’s shadow environment secretary Steve Reed was in Sky’s Westminster studio when it was announced that his party’s candidate had won in Tamworth.
Reacting to the win, Mr Reed said: “This is a historic moment. That by-election result is an earthquake.”
Losing Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire will come as a blow to Mr Sunak, with the results widely seen as a test of his and the Conservatives’ popularity ahead of a general election expected next year.
The Tories were accused of expectation management when, ahead of the vote, they said holding on to the safe seats would be challenging as “the rule of thumb is that governments don’t win” by-elections.
Government minister Andrew Bowie claimed that despite Labour’s victories, there is “no momentum” behind Sir Keir Starmer.
“I would be very surprised if these results were to be repeated in a general election,” he told Sky News.
“Our job now is to take stock of these results, absolutely, but to move on.”
