In latest blow, Rishi Sunak’s party loses 2 seats to opposition Labor Party in key election

London, UK:

Britain’s ruling Conservative Party lost two more parliamentary seats to Labor in by-elections on Friday, dealing a fresh blow to embattled Prime Minister Rishi Sunak ahead of a full national vote.

It’s been a tough week for the deficit-hit Britain leader, who is struggling to restore support for his beleaguered party as official data showed Britain slipping into recession after two consecutive quarters of economic contraction. Is.

The Conservatives, in power since 2010, are widely expected to lose the general election, with Sunak, 43, saying he will contest the election in the second half of the year.

The main Labor opposition secured its second-highest by-election victory away from the Conservatives in a Thursday contest that was held after one Tory MP quit and another faces a recall petition over bullying his staff. Was lying.

Its leader Keir Starmer praised the “fantastic” results, saying, “The Tories have failed. The Rishi meltdown proves that. That’s why we’ve seen so many former Conservative voters going straight to this changed Labor Party “

“People want change and are prepared to put their trust in a changed Labor Party to deliver it.”

Conservative deputy chairman James Daly described the loss as “disappointing” but insisted there was “no love” for Starmer.

latest losses

The by-election highlights the struggle Sunak faces to secure a fifth consecutive term for the Conservatives.

The party lost a series of traditionally safe seats to Labor and the smaller centrist Liberal Democrats.

Former chief prosecutor Starmer and his party have enjoyed double-digit leads over the Tories in most opinion polls during Sunak’s 15-month tenure as prime minister.

He replaced Liz Truss, who was ousted after her tax-cut economic agenda stirred the markets and lost support.

The popularity of the Conservatives has plunged as Britain faces its worst cost-of-living crisis in decades following the pandemic.

Factional infighting and chaotic governance have led to three prime ministers since autumn 2022.

There have been a record 21 by-elections since the last general election in 2019, many of which resulted from misconduct by Tory MPs. The Conservatives were defeated by a landslide.

The party has now lost more by-elections in a single parliament than any government since Harold Wilson’s 1966–70 Labor administration, losing 15 times.

big swing

Thursday’s competitions were held in Wellingborough in central England and Kingswood in the south west.

Former Wellingborough Tory MP Peter Bone has been suspended from Parliament after an investigation found he subjected a staff member to bullying and sexual misconduct.

Bone’s partner Helen Harrison was controversially selected as his replacement candidate in the seat, which the party had held since 2005.

Labor achieved a lead of 28.5 per cent, surpassing a majority of 18,540 – the second highest ever score from the Conservatives in a by-election.

The vote in Kingswood, near Bristol, was triggered by Chris Skidmore’s resignation as MP in protest at Sunak’s plans to boost oil and gas drilling in the North Sea.

Labor won the seat – Tory since 2010, but it was abolished for the general election under the redrawing of constituency boundaries – with almost 45 per cent of the vote.

Sunak will also be unnerved by right-wing Reform UK – formerly the Brexit Party – gaining more than 10 per cent for the first time, which suggests his party is losing right-wing voters to Labor as well.

The victory will be a welcome relief for the opposition party, which has faced a difficult week following the suspension of two potential MPs on anti-Semitism charges.

This month he was chosen to contest a by-election in Rochdale, near Manchester, caused by the death of a veteran Labor MP.

(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)