Festus Akinbusoye shakes hands with new Labor MP Alistair Strathern before being quickly escorted out of the chamber. Photo: JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP or licensors
When the Conservatives foresaw the results of the Mid Bedfordshire by-election, they certainly could not have foreseen that the Conservative candidate would be thrown into a getaway car in the pouring rain with a huge defeat.
Yet this is where Festus Akinbusoye turned out shortly after 3.30am on Friday when the 25,000-strong Conservative majority in the once deeply blue constituency was crushed by Labour.
Six hours earlier, as polls closed at 10pm, all three major parties were quick to pour cold water on any suggestion they might win. The Labor Party insisted that the victory was always a “far-sighted one”, while the Lib Dems humbly suggested: “Whatever the result, it is clear that the Lib Dem vote has surged in genuine blue villages across Bedfordshire.”
But it was the Tory position – warning that “by-elections will always be difficult” – that ultimately proved most correct.
The arrival of the first ballots to be counted in the by-election was marked by a massive gathering of potential candidates from The Labor Party, young and fresh faces.
It is noteworthy that many looked even younger than 25-year-old Keir Mather, who won the Selby and Ainsty tournaments in July.
It turns out they were floppy-haired teenagers from nearby sixth forms who were called upon by the council to carry ballot boxes from the glass and steel entrance atrium of Central Bedfordshire Council's Chicksands headquarters to the counting rooms on the floor above.
One of them, who was later seen questioning shadow science minister Peter Kyle, appears to have already been media trained, judging by the curt “no comment” he uttered when asked who he would be for if he had the right vote, would vote in the by-election. Westminster is waiting.
Kyle has led Labour's campaign in the constituency since June, before Nadine Dorries officially resigned. Dressed in a sharp navy suit and skinny tie, à la Rishi Sunak, he provided the most entertaining moment before midnight, very carefully eating a sausage roll bought from a council canteen, ensuring that no escaped flakes spoiled its pristine appearance. There would be no Ed Miliband bacon sandwich here, especially given Labour's big win.
Mr Strathearn clutches a red notepad as he delivers his victory speech – without any cookie cereal. Photo: JUSTIN TULLIS/AFP
But other than Kyle's culinary exploits, things were a little subdued. As midnight approached, rumors began to spread that Labor was ahead. Maybe so, but surely the Tories weren't about to lose their biggest numerical majority in British election history?
In a charcoal-carpeted, concrete-roofed counting room filled with a crowd of caffeine-fueled, gem-munching midget volunteers, activists from each party milled around, trying to gauge how many votes their candidate had won.
Antonio Vitiello , the English Democrats' black-bearded, ponytailed candidate, patrolled the room wearing sunglasses like a visually impaired Bond villain.
A Tory, a thick-browed man from Stow in his early 20s, ran in and out of the counting room every few minutes, passing estimates to party colleagues outside. His eyes were bloodshot. It was a long campaign and it was going to end badly.
Down below, Dave Holland, the Reform candidate, was much more relaxed. With gelled, spiky hair and the scent of cigarette smoke, he looked resplendent in a blue suit, which he teamed with Union flag brogues. He paid £300 for them from Geoffrey West (down from £500 on sale) over the weekend and wore them for the first time.
Dave Holland wears a light blue suit for the Mid Bedfordshire by-election
But the Tory pinch was really felt. Just before 1am, the Lib Dems revealed they had stolen a huge chunk of the Conservative vote, paving the way for a Labor victory. “Tory had a bad night,” a jubilant source told the assembled hackers. Those wearing blue roses did not deny this.
The prospect was grim: a monumental defeat in a constituency that the party had held since 1931.
It was raining lightly in the cool smoking area early in the morning. As the clock approached 3am, the assembled reporters waited for the candidates to arrive to make their announcements.
However, it was not until all the other candidates were on stage that Mr Akinbusoye and Labour's Alistair Strathern showed their faces. when the votes were counted.
When the results were duly announced, with Strathairn's 13,872 votes surpassing Mr. Akinbusoye's 12,680, no one seemed surprised. Strathern read his speech from the red board, delivering it with a slight lisp.
Mr Akinbusoye was not there to see it. Dragged out of the hall by assistants with their hands around his hips, they pushed him through a group of executioners into the pouring rain, into the scum of Storm Babet and into a waiting black Mercedes. “We'll talk another time,” Mr. Akinbusoye said, refusing to answer any questions.
You have to wonder if that time will ever come for both him and Tory .
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