Stephen Morgan MP has said the historic results show that more and more people want change in the country and are ready to trust Labour to deliver it, as Rishi Sunak continues to fail to deliver on their priorities.
Labour’s Damien Egan overturned an 11,000 majority to win the Kingswood seat, with a swing of 16.4%. This seat has historically indicated which party is set to form the next Government due a high level of swing voters.
In Wellingborough, the swing was 28.5% – the second highest swing from Conservative to Labour in any post-war by-election. Labour’s Gen Kitchen overturned a 19,000 majority.
The City MP has said voters in Kingswood and Wellingborough have spoken to the mood of Britain today, where people are bearing the consequences of a Conservative rule that has overseen a declining economy and failed to improve living standards over 14 years of Government.
Recent news that the UK economy is shrinking prove that Rishi Sunak’s plan for growth isn’t working and is taking Britain backwards. Labour have now made four by-election gains from the Conservatives in this parliament.
Kingswood and Wellingborough follow historic results in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth late last year which saw Labour similarly overturn huge Conservative majorities.
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.
Commenting, Portsmouth South MP Stephen Morgan said:
“Voters in Kingswood and Wellingborough have spoken to the mood of Britain today, fed up with struggling with the cost of living, and ready for the change Labour is set to deliver.
“The Tories have failed to deliver on Britain’s priorities. Rishi’s recession proves that. That’s why we’ve seen so many former Conservative voters switching directly to this changed Labour Party.
“The sooner the Government gives the rest of Britain their say, the better.”
Keir Starmer, Leader of the Labour Party, commenting on Labour gains from the Conservatives in Kingswood and Wellingborough:
“These are fantastic results in Kingswood and Wellingborough that show people want change and are ready to put their faith in a changed Labour Party to deliver it.
“By winning in these Tory strongholds, we can confidently say that Labour is back in the service of working people and we will work tirelessly to deliver for them.
“Those who gave us their trust in Kingswood and Wellingborough, and those considering doing so, can be safe in the knowledge that we will spend every day working to get Britain’s future back.”
