New Labor MP for Blackpool South, Chris Webb (centre), reacts as his victory is announced at the counting center in Blackpool, northwest England, May 3, 2024, during the by-election from Blackpool South.
Oli Scarf | Afp | Getty Images
British leader Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party suffered significant losses in a wave of overnight local elections, a closely watched sentiment gauge ahead of an expected national vote later this year.
The opposition Labor Party won a by-election in Blackpool South, taking the seat from the Conservatives. New Labor MP Chris Webb beat his Conservative rival David Jones by a significant 26%. The Reform UK party, founded by Brexit supporter Nigel Farage, comes in third place.
The by-election in the northern town was called following the suspension of former Conservative MP Scott Benton from the party after he was caught offering to lobby on behalf of gambling investors for money.
Labor leader Keir Starmer published on social media platform X that the “swing to Labor in Blackpool South is historic”.
“Britain demands change. It’s time for a general election,” he added.
Angela Richardson, deputy chair of the Conservative Party, told the BBC the result “was not unexpected”, especially given the circumstances that triggered the by-election.
In smaller local elections in England, Labor also made considerable gains. He took control of four councils – Hartlepool, Thurrock, Redditch and Rushmoor – while the Conservatives lost three. Further findings from the board are awaited.
These votes are likely to be the last major political test for Sunak’s party before the general election. The date for the vote has not yet been set, although it must take place before January 28, 2025 and the Prime Minister said in January that his “working hypothesis” was that it would take place in the second half of the year of this year.
Thursday’s by-election is the 11th the Conservative Party has lost since the 2019 general election.
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