Stephen Morgan MP has hailed Thursday’s two by-election victories by his party as a historic moment which shows “how far Labour has come”.
Mr Morgan said the results demonstrated that only Labour can defeat the Tories at the next election to form the next Government.
Labour overturned huge Conservative majorities to win Thursday’s two by-elections Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth.
Labour emerged victorious in Mid Bedfordshire – Nadine Dorries’ former seat – where the Tories were defending a majority of more than 24,000.
In Mid Bedfordshire, there had been speculation that a split in the anti-Conservative vote with the Lib Dems could allow the Tories to clinch a narrow victory, but poll after poll pointed towards a two-horse race between the Tories and Labour.
The Conservative candidate Festus Akinbusoye, came second and Lib Dem Emma Holland-Lindsay came a distant third.
If this swing was replicated in Portsmouth, Labour would hold Portsmouth South and gain Portsmouth North (which is currently held by the Tories with a majority of 15,780). Currently independent polling suggests Labour will win Portsmouth North at the next election.
The Conservatives were also defeated in Tamworth, where Labour’s Sarah Edwards overturned a majority of more than 19,000.
The swing of 23.9% to Labour was the party’s third to top 20% this year, after by-elections in Rutherglen and Selby, and the second highest achieved by Labour at a by-election since 1945.
Commenting on Labour gains from the Conservatives in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire, and what this means for the south coast at the General Election, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:
“Thursday’s results in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire show how far the Labour Party has come, winning even in the most traditionally safe Tory seats – and demonstrates we can rebuild trust with communities and win in seats all across the south coast
“Our campaigns have focused ruthlessly on the issues that matter to local people: tackling crime, bringing down NHS waiting lists and addressing the cost of living.
“We knew these seats would be incredibly difficult to win, but these results show how much the country is crying out for change and how only Labour can defeat the Tories at the next election.”
Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, on Labour gains from the Conservatives in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire, said:
“These are phenomenal results that show Labour is back in the service of working people and redrawing the political map.
“Winning in these Tory strongholds shows that people overwhelmingly want change and they’re ready to put their faith in our changed Labour Party to deliver it.
“Voters across Mid Bedfordshire, Tamworth and Britain want a Labour government determined to deliver for working people, with a proper plan to rebuild our country.
“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.”
