Blow for Sunak as Labour takes Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire seats

Labour has dealt a blow to Rishi Sunak by overturning a Tory majority of almost 20,000 in Tamworth.

With the potential for a historic by-election gain in Mid Bedfordshire where votes are still being counted, Labour could double the pain for the Prime Minister.

In Tamworth, Labour’s Sarah Edwards defeated Tory Andrew Cooper by a majority of 1,316.

The Conservatives were defending a 19,600 majority, but a 23.9 percentage point swing to Labour saw that eradicated.

It was the second highest ever by-election swing to Labour.

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer said: “This is a phenomenal result that shows Labour is back in the service of working people and redrawing the political map.

“To those who have given us their trust, and those considering doing so, Labour will spend every day acting in your interests and focused on your priorities. Labour will give Britain its future back.”

But, with Labour enjoying a significant poll lead nationally and local outrage at Ms Dorries’ resignation this summer, Mr Sunak’s party lost the seat.

My colleague Archie Mitchell reports:

The swing from the Conservatives to Labour in Tamworth was 23.9 percentage points.

This is larger than the swing Labour achieved at the Selby & Ainsty by-election in July, which was 23.7 points.

It is also the second-largest swing managed by Labour at a by-election since 1945.

The highest was at the Dudley West by-election in December 1994, which was 29.1 points.

Sir Keir Starmer has hailed a shock win in Tamworth as evidence the party is “back… and redrawing the political map”.

Reacting to the results, the Labour leader said: “This is a phenomenal result that shows Labour is back in the service of working people and redrawing the political map.

“To those who have given us their trust, and those considering doing so, Labour will spend every day acting in your interests and focused on your priorities. Labour will give Britain its future back.”

Tamworth’s newly elected Labour MP Sarah Edwards issued a statement after her win in a previously Tory majority constituency.

“Tonight we have turned the page on Tory neglect and delivered a fresh start for Tamworth and our villages,” said Ms Edwards.

In a message to her electorate, she said: “I know a lot of you have voted Labour for the first time and I will not let you down.

“I’ve spoken to many people in this campaign and the same conversation has been repeated: people feel worse off after 13 years of the Conservatives and don’t feel like the government have a plan to address the big issues that face our country.”

She added: “My message to the prime minister is get in your government car, drive to Buckingham Palace, do the decent thing and call a general election.”

Tamworth’s new MP Sarah Edwards said: “Tonight the people of Tamworth have voted for Labour’s positive vision and a fresh start.

“They’ve sent a clear message to Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives that they have had enough of this failed government, which has crashed the economy and destroyed our public services.

“The people of Tamworth have made it clear. It’s time for change.”

Labour’s candidate Sarah Edwards has arrived at the by-election count in Tamworth, with results expected soon.

Local Democracy Reporter Richard Price reports Labour has won, with a majority of around 1,000 votes.

Labour’s campaign manager in Mid Bedfordshire has said he does not know the result, but that it has been “a good night” for the party.

Peter Kyle, who has been campaigning in the safe Tory seat for months, said it is “clear Labour is doing very well”.

“This was always a moonshot for us, this campaign,” Mr Kyle told the BBC.

And he added: “If  we did win this it would be the biggest buyer election shock in history… and would be a devastating blow to Rishi Sunak.”

And Mr Kyle lashed out at the Liberal Democrats, who have risked splitting the vote and handing Mid Bedfordshire back to the Tories, saying: “We have learned during this campaign is the Liberal Democrats don’t know how to add up.”

He was referring to the Liberal Democrats’ use of leaflets which critics have described as misleading.

The Liberal Democrats think Labour have won the Mid Bedfordshire by-election, and Tories on the ground seem to think so too.

A source outside the counting hall said the Liberal Democrats were not wrong to say Labour are on top, but stressed the result would be “close” and was not a reflection of national trends.