Devendra Kumar
Rishi Sunak’s Conservative party suffered a crushing defeat in the Blackpool South by-election, as Labour’s Chris Webb won the seat with a significant swing of 26.33 per cent from the Tories. The result is a wake-up call for the Prime Minister, who is facing further challenges in council contests across England. The Tories avoided a humiliating third-place finish in Blackpool South, but still lost seats to Labour.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of former Tory MP Scott Benton, who stepped down following a lobbying scandal. Webb’s victory is significant, as it marks the third-biggest swing from the Conservatives to Labour at a by-election since the Second World War. Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer described the result as a “seismic win,” adding that it was a clear message from voters to the Conservatives that it’s time for change.
The Conservatives, however, are not the only party facing challenges. Reform UK, a party that has been gaining popularity, won many seats in Sunderland, beating the Conservatives into third place in 16 of the 25 seats up for grabs. This strong showing will add to Tory unease about Sunak’s ability to lead the party to a general election victory.
In other results, Labour gained control of councils in key battleground areas, including Hartlepool and Thurrock. The party also secured police and crime commissioners from the Conservatives in Cumbria and Avon and Somerset. The Greens and Liberal Democrats also made gains, with the Greens winning 12 seats and the Liberal Democrats gaining 12.
The results are a stark contrast to the 2021 elections, which saw the Tories win big under the leadership of Boris Johnson. Voters this time around are sending a clear message that they are dissatisfied with the current government and are looking for change.