BY-ELECTION SWOOP
Labour wins Blackpool South by-election as they take seat from Conservatives – as Reform UK are pipped into third
Labour's Chris Webb is the new MP for Blackpool South
LABOUR has this morning won the Blackpool South by-election, stealing the seat back from the Tories.
Chris Webb defeated the Conservative candidate David Jones by 10,825 votes to 3,218 - a 26 per cent swing in the Red Wall constituency.
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Right-wing insurgents Reform UK ran the Tories close but failed to beat them, getting pipped into third on 3,101.
The Tories expected a tough night - knowing governing parties usually struggle in by-elections, on top of a controversy that led to the by-election.
But as local election results are counted across the country, Sir Keir Starmer declared Blackpool South "The most important result today."
The Labour leader said: "This is the one contest where voters had the chance to send a message to Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives directly, and that message is an overwhelming vote for change."
Speaking from the constituency later this morning, Sir Keir added: "We don't accept this hopelessness of the Tories that nothing can get better. We have a positive case. We want to take our country forward. This is a giant step on that journey."
The contest was triggered by the resignation of former Tory MP Scott Benton, who was suspended last year after being caught in a lobbying sting.
Mr Benton had snatched the seat from Labour MP Gordon Marsden in 2019, with a majority of just over 3,000.
The former councillor and primary school teacher, 36, from Newport, Wales - had the whip removed in April last year.
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He had suggested to undercover reporters, posing as investors, that he would lobby ministers in exchange for money.
Mr Benton stepped down instead of waiting for the outcome of a recall petition amid his 35-day suspension from Parliament.
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Blackpool South was previously held by the Tories for decades after its creation in 1945.
It was then won by Labour in 1997.
Tonight's defeat is the Conservatives' 11th so far this parliament.
Blackpool South comprises of the central and southern parts of Blackpool, including Blackpool Tower and the Pleasure Beach.
Blackpool FC and the site of Blackpool Airport are also within the boundaries.
RED WALL
It formed a tower of strength in the so-called red wall after Tony Blair took power, until it toppled to the Conservatives once again in 2019.
Mr Webb had said during his campaign he was "standing in this election because I care".
He added: "Voters now have the opportunity to elect someone who is Blackpool born and bred and who will always put Blackpool South first."
Mr Jones - who had earmarked cracking down on crime and reopening Blackpool Airport to commercial flights - claimed the constituency's Labour-run council has left the people poorer.
He told the that local people are having to pay more council tax, but getting less in return.
He said: "Since 1991, Blackpool Council has been Labour for 29 out of 33 years with Council tax going up by 45% since 2016."
He added: “Blackpool Council has currently borrowed £400 million and wants to increase this by 2027 to £640 million.
"The interest on that will be £23 million a year, meaning less money for key services."
SIGH OF RELIEF
While tonight's defeat will be tough to bear, the Tories will be breathing a sigh of relief Reform UK did not claim the runner-up position.
The by-election represented a crucial bellwether moment for gauging the electoral potency of the Brexit party’s successor.
The contest comes on the same day as local elections across England and Wales, with Rishi Sunak's party having been bracing for more significant losses.
They were predicted to lose half of their councillors, with Chancellor Jeremy Hunt admitting on Wednesday they knew it was going to be a "difficult" day.
Most of the seats up for re-election were last contested in 2021, at the peak of Boris Johnson’s popularity as the Covid-19 vaccine was rolled out.
A total of 11 mayoral contests took place, including for the London mayoralty between front runners, Labour incumbent Sadiq Khan and Tory rival Susan Hall.
Tory mayors Andy Street in the West Midlands, and Tees Valley’s Ben Houchen also faced key re-election battles, with polls suggesting narrow contests with their Labour opponents.
The Tories said the Blackpool South by-election was “always going to be difficult” given the “specific circumstances” surrounding former MP Scott Benton after Labour secured a resounding victory in the vote.
A Conservative Party spokesperson said: “This was a tough fight and David Jones was an excellent candidate who campaigned hard for every single vote.
“This was always going to be difficult election given the specific circumstances related to the previous incumbent.
“What has been clear is that a vote for Reform is a vote for Sir Keir Starmer – taking us right back to square one.”
There is “no doubt” that Rishi Sunak will lead the Conservatives into a general election, Richard Holden has said after the Tories suffered a bruising set of local election results.
The party chairman was repeatedly asked whether the Prime Minister’s can survive following losses in key areas like Hartlepool, Rushmoor in Hampshire and Thurrock.
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He told Times Radio: “The Prime Minister is going to go on and lead the Conservative Party into the general election, there’s no doubt about that.”
Asked for his reaction to the results so far, Mr Holden said: “Not a great set of results but coming off I think it would be fair to say a very high watermark in 2021.”
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