RISHI STANDS FIRM
By-election 2023 results live: Rishi hails victory as Tories HOLD Boris’ old seat & vows to double down despite 2 losses
RISHI Sunak insisted the next general election isn't “a done deal” as he hailed the Tories' unexpected victory in Uxbridge today.
At a greasy spoon in the constituency, the PM vowed to “double down, stick to our plan and deliver for people”.
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It came as his party clung on to Boris Johnson's old seat - but were dealt bloody noses in North Yorkshire and the South West during yesterday's by-elections.
Mr Sunak said: "By-elections, midterms for an incumbent government, are always difficult. They rarely win them.
"The message I take away is that we've got to double down, stick to our plan and deliver for people. That's what I heard when I was out on the doorsteps and that's what we're going to do.
"We're going to work incredibly hard to deliver on our five priorities and earn people's trust for the next election."
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Labour overturned its largest ever majority at a by-election - a 24 point swing - to win Selby and Ainsty.
And in Somerton and Frome the Lib Dems managed a 29 point swing to swoop up the constituency of disgraced ex-MP David Warburton.
But in a major blow to Sir Keir Starmer, a huge anti-Ulez vote helped Tory candidate Steve Tuckwell defy the polls and claim victory.
Commenting on the win, Conservative chairman Greg Hands said: "An amazing result in Uxbridge!
"There'll be real questions in Labour headquarters today about not gaining Uxbridge.
"Londoners see that Labour is not good at running things and they see that Keir Starmer is changing his views all the time depending on the audience that he has in front of him."
Mr Tuckwell, who "wasn't expecting to win this election", described how the "number one message" on doorsteps was "absolute opposition to the expansion of Ulez".
A Labour row quickly kicked off as Deputy Leader Angela Rayner broke ranks to admit "when you don't listen to the voters, you don't win elections".
Ms Rayner added: "I think one of the things we have to reflect on today is not only the mood against the Tories, but also the decision in Uxbridge was related to Ulez."
An opposition spokesperson insisted Sadiq Khan's controversial policy was a "concern for voters"; but stopped short of calling for it to be scrapped.
By-elections 2023 results at a glance
Uxbridge and South Ruislip:
- Tory candidate Steve Tuckwell keeps the former seat of Boris Johnson
- Majority is slashed to 495
Selby and Ainsty
- Labour's Keir Mather wins the seat formerly belonging to Nigel Adams
- 24 point swing overturns an old Tory majority of 20,137
- New majority is 4,161
Somerton and Frome
- Lib Dems' Sarah Dyke wins the seat formerly belonging to David Warburton
- 29 point swing overturns an old Tory majority of 19,213
- New majority is 11,008
Meanwhile, a source close to the London Mayor said: “Sadiq has always been clear that expanding the Ulez was a really difficult decision, but necessary to save the lives of young and vulnerable Londoners.”
Commenting on his old stomping ground, Mr Johnson hailed the “fantastic news from Uxbridge".
"This shows the Conservatives can win in London and around the country,” the ex-PM remarked.
Selby will now be home to parliament's youngest MP.
25-year-old Keir Mather will replace Boris ultra-loyalist Nigel Adams.
Discussing the victory, Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer last night said: “We don’t want parliament to become like the Inbetweeners.”
Mr Mather's mother Jill Tambarros hit back: "He does not appear to be like a 25-year-old - he's confident, he's mature, he's got a good head on his shoulders."
Mr Hands said: "What I would say is that result was driven largely by Conservative voters, previous Conservative voters, staying home.
"Clearly we've got work to do to win back the trust and confidence, we don't deny that."
Celebrating his party's success, a beaming Sir Keir joked: "Because I'm always saying no complacency, it's the first time ever I've been able to say well done Keir - Keir Mather."
In the South West an overjoyed Lib Dem Leader Sir Ed Davey declared his party are “firmly back in the West Country.”
He said: “The people of Somerton and Frome have spoken for the rest of the country who are fed up with Rishi Sunak’s out-of-touch Conservative government.”
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In the days leading up to yesterday the Tories were expecting - and heavily briefing - a three-seat wipeout.
Managing to hold Uxbridge will be chalked up as a win for Mr Sunak and an important sign that next year's general election isn't a done deal.
However, polling guru Sir John Curtice told the BBC this morning the Tories remain in "deep electoral trouble".
Across the three by-elections the Conservative vote plummeted 21 points, a stat that reflects surveys on the national mood.
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"Taken as a piece, these three by-elections are consistent with the depressing message of the opinion polls that the Conservatives are a long way behind," Sir John said.
Former Tory Chancellor George Osborne insisted that despite "dire results" in Selby and Somerton, "winning Uxbridge has given the Tories something very precious, that they didn’t have yesterday: hope".
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