New Labor MP for Blackpool South Chris Webb (centre) reacts as victory is announced at the counting center in Blackpool, northwest England, during the Blackpool South by-election on May 3, 2024.
Olly Scarfe | AFP | Getty Images
British leader Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party suffered heavy losses in a series of local elections held overnight, a closely watched sentiment indicator ahead of a national vote expected later this year.
The opposition Labor Party won the Blackpool South by-election, taking seats from the Conservatives. New Labor MP Chris Webb beat Conservative rival David Jones by a wide margin with 26% of the vote. The Reform Party, founded by Brexit supporter Nigel Farage, came in third.
A by-election was held in the northern town after former Conservative MP Scott Benton was suspended for lobbying on behalf of gambling investors to obtain money.
Labor leader Keir Starmer posted Said on social media platform X, “The shift to Labor in Blackpool South is historic.”
“Britain demands change. It’s time for a general election,” he added.
Angela Richardson, deputy leader of the Conservative Party, told the BBC that the result was “not surprising”, especially given the circumstances that triggered the by-election.
Labor also achieved sizeable victories in smaller local elections across England. It controls four councils – Hartlepool, Thurrock, Redditch and Rushmore – while the Conservatives lost three. More council results will be announced soon.
The vote could be the last major political test for Sunak’s party before the general election.A date for the vote has not yet been set but must take place by January 28, 2025, and the Prime Minister said in January that his “working assumption” was that the vote would take place by January 28, 2025. This year.
Thursday’s by-election was the Conservatives’ 11th defeat since the 2019 general election.
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