Madrid, 20 years (European Press)
UK Labor overturned its Conservative majority on Thursday by winning two crucial by-election seats in Tamworth, north of Birmingham, and Medfordshire, north of London, dealing a blow to the Prime Minister. Sunak, before the next general election.
In Tamworth, Labor candidate Sarah Edwards had a narrow margin with her Conservative rival, Andrew Cooper, receiving 11,719 votes and 10,403 votes respectively. The participation rate in these elections was 35.9 percent.
Edwards confirmed that Tamworth “voted for the positive vision” of his party and for a “fresh start”: “They have sent a clear message to (Prime Minister) Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives that they are fed up with this failed government.” “This has collapsed the economy and destroyed our public services.”
“I have made promises to you that I intend to keep. I will be your voice at Westminster and challenge this government to get a better deal for Tamworth. You have solemnly promised. I know many of you voted Labor for the first time and I will not disappoint you,” he told supporters.
These elections were held after the resignation of Conservative MP Chris Pincher last September, who was accused of abuse of power after touching two men. The deputy claimed that the events occurred while he was off duty and therefore he was acting in his personal capacity.
Second victory in one night
A few minutes after Edwards’ victory was known, the results of the Medfordshire by-election were announced, where the Labor candidate, Alister Strathairn, also won, after obtaining 13,872 votes compared to 12,680 votes for the Conservative Party candidate, Festus Akinbosoye. Which decreased by 28.6 percentage points compared to the latest results from 2019.
After his victory, Strathern said that the two results show that the country is “in dire need of change” and stressed that he had delivered a “historic message” and a “historic moment.” “The Labor Party is not banned from anywhere and tonight’s results prove that,” he stated, claiming that his party’s victory was possible due to the change in the party’s leadership.
The mid-Bedfordshire by-election was held after MP Nadine Dorris resigned in August, eleven weeks after promising to leave and launching a scathing attack on Sunak. The former minister announced in June that she would leave the House of Commons “with immediate effect” in protest at not being included in Boris Johnson’s resignation list of honours.
Labor leader Keir Starmer said after his party’s victory that it was “an exceptional result that shows that the Labor Party is once again at the service of workers and is redrawing the political map.”
Likewise, he asserted, “the victory in conservative strongholds shows that people want change overwhelmingly.” He said: “Voters in Medfordshire, Tamworth and the UK want a Labor government determined to help workers, with a proper plan to rebuild our country.”
He added: “For those who have given us their trust, and for those who are considering doing so, Labor will spend every day working in your best interests and focusing on your priorities. Labor will restore Britain’s future.”
This double victory is the first time that Labor has made two by-election gains on the same day since 1962. It is worth noting that the Conservative Party lost support in mid-July when it lost two other important seats to Labor (in Selby, Georgia). Ainste, in North Yorkshire) and the Liberal Democrats (Somerton and Frome).
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