Labour’s Ashley Dalton told the Conservatives to “move out of the way” after a comfortable win in the West Lancashire by-election.
She demanded a general election, telling Rishi Sunak that it was time for Labour to take over.
Thursday night’s result represented the best ever performance for Labour in the seat, as its vote share increased to 62 per cent from 52 per cent in 2019. Its majority now stands at more than 36 per cent.
The Conservatives, meanwhile, recorded their worst ever performance in the constituency, with the double-digit swing leaving the Tories on 25 per cent, down by 11 per cent.
This is representative of national polling, which currently has Labour between 20 and 25 percentage points ahead of the Conservatives.
While some expect the gap to narrow before a general election, others have predicted Sir Keir Starmer’s party could achieve a landslide victory on a scale last seen in 1997.
Reform UK, Richard Tice’s insurgent Right-wing party, came third with 4.4 per cent, an almost identical share of the vote to that achieved by the Brexit Party, its predecessor, at the 2019 election.
While Reform UK lost its deposit, as it gained less than the five per cent of the vote required to keep it, the result again reflected national polling and a similar vote share countrywide could dent the prospects of Conservatives in dozens of marginal seats.
It may also add to Tory fears of an exodus of Right-wing voters who became disillusioned by the ousting of Liz Truss after just 49 days and an Autumn Statement which saw some £55 billion of tax rises and spending cuts.
Bitterly cold conditions on polling day and the expectation of an easy Labour hold contributed to a turnout of less than 32 per cent.
Ms Dalton, who works part-time for a local charity, secured a majority of 8,326 over Conservative candidate Mike Prendergast, with a 10.52 per cent swing from the Tories to Labour.
While Rosie Cooper’s majority at the 2019 snap general election was 8,336, that was over 36 per cent of the vote, compared with just over 25 per cent this time around.
In her victory speech at Burscough Racquet and Fitness Centre, Ms Dalton said: “Tonight the people of West Lancashire constituency have spoke on behalf of the country.
“They have sent a message to this Conservative Government. They do not have confidence in them to govern or the Prime Minister to lead.
“Prime Minister, your Government has no ideas or a plan to address the big issues facing our country, like record levels of child poverty and people dying waiting for ambulances.”
‘Testing times for our country’
The ballot was held on Thursday in the Labour-held seat after Ms Cooper, who represented the constituency for 17 years, accepted the role of chairwoman of the Mersey Care NHS Foundation Trust.
Polls opened at 7am in the constituency, which Ms Cooper last won in 2019 with a majority of 8,336.
Ms Dalton said these were “testing times for our country” amid the cost-of-living crisis.
“I have had hundreds of conversations with voters and I know our hard life has become and the unthinkable choices people are having to face – paying their bills or buying food,” she said.
“The people of West Lancashire have put their trust in Keir Starmer’s Labour. We have provided hope.”
The Conservatives came second in the last election, polling just over 19,000 votes, with the Liberal Democrats in third.
It was the latest by-election test for Mr Sunak since entering Downing Street last October and comes amid a cost-of-living crisis, soaring inflation and a wave of industrial action across the UK.
New Tory chairman Greg Hands, who replaced the sacked Nadhim Zahawi this week, has been charged with steering his party towards the local elections in May amid pressure on the prime minister to get his party in fighting shape ahead of the next general election in around 18 months’ time.
