Tories lose Mid Bedfordshire for first time in almost 100 years

Conservative Party candidate Festus Akinbusoye shakes hands with Labor Party candidate Alistair Strathern (left) on stage ahead of the Mid Bedfordshire by-election results. Photo: Photo by JUSTIN TALLIS/AFP via Getty Images

Mid Bedfordshire has been wrested from Tory hands for the first time in almost 100 years, in a “deeply worrying” blow to Rishi Sunak.

Major UK polls Guru Professor Sir John Curtice warned of impending panic among the Conservatives as a true blue seat went to Labour, setting a new record for the largest numerical majority overturned in a UK by-election since 1945.

He said, that the Conservatives' twin defeats in Mid-Bedfordshire and Tamworth marked one of the worst nights for the government in its medium-term history, with echoes of defeats that preceded Sir Tony Blair's landslide victory in 1997.

Minister Andrew Bowie insisted the Tories were nonetheless “on the right track,” telling Sky News: “There is no mass support for the Labor Party. What that tells me is that people support what we do, but they just weren't prepared to come out and vote for us.»

Sir Keir Starmer welcomed the «phenomenal» news, saying Labor » redrawing the political map.”

The Conservatives suffered a colossal election defeat in Mid Bedfordshire, a constituency they had held since 1931. The 24,664 majority won by former MP Nadine Dorries in 2019 was wiped out by a 20.5 percentage point swing to Labour.

Labour candidate Alistair Strathearn and his partner Megan Corton-Scott arrived at Priory House in Chicksands. Photo: Joe Giddens

The Conservative vote share almost halved from 59.8 percent to 31.1 percent, while Labor increased its tally from 21.7 percent to 34 percent. cent.

Labour's Alistair Strathern won with a majority of 1,192 votes, narrowly ahead of his Conservative rival Festus Akinbusoye.

He said his victory «made history» and sent a «resonant signal». «, and shadow cabinet minister Peter Kyle called it a «political earthquake.»

Asked whether a sharp decline like in 1997 was possible, Mr Strathearn told The Telegraph: «I think it's quite clear that right across the country here, as in Tamworth, people are turning away from a government that has not shown itself to be very effective. » respect for the communities he was supposed to represent.

“I and the rest of the Labor Party must work incredibly hard to earn that trust ahead of the general election, to show them that it is the Labor Party under Keir who has the answers to the problems we face. But this is an incredibly encouraging sign, and I am so grateful for the trust that voters have placed in me today.”

Mr Kyle, who led Labour's campaign in Mid Bedfordshire, said there was no precedent or benchmark for victory, adding: «I don't think 1992 goes back far enough.»

In conversation speaking to The Telegraph in the declaration room, he said the results would not «breed complacency» but were «incredibly motivating» for Labour.

«We are working hard to be a credible government, waiting for that very moment when the Conservative Party makes every effort to become the opposition,» he said.

Sir John told The Telegraph it was » «one of the worst by-election nights» experienced by any government in its medium-term history.

«The echoes of the results of the 1992-1997 parliamentary by-elections are deeply troubling for the party,» he added.

Labor candidate Sarah Edwards arrives for the Tamworth by-election count at Rowlett School. Photo: Jacob King

The Tories lost eight seats in by-elections held between 1992, when John Major won a slim majority, and 1997, when Sir Tony achieved a historic swing for Labour.

G- Mr Sunak was out of the country when the results were finalized, spending the night in Saudi Arabia during a tour of the Middle East following the Hamas attacks on Israel.

The Lib Dems, who finished third in Mid Bedfordshire, said their ability to switch Conservative voters paved the way for Labour's victory.

Deputy leader Daisy Cooper said: «We have almost doubled our vote share, which will allow the Lib Dems to win dozens of seats from the Conservatives in the general election.»

“The Liberal Democrats played a decisive role in defeating the Conservatives in Mid Bedfordshire, and we can play a decisive role in getting rid of this Conservative government at the next election.”