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Labour crashes to humiliating byelection defeat in Hartlepool (UK)
Labour has suffered a humiliating byelection defeat in Hartlepool after the party’s former heartland town elected a Conservative MP for the first time in 62 years.
The Tories won 15,529 votes, with Labour recording 8,589, according to official results. Jill Mortimer defeated the Labour candidate, Dr Paul Williams, by 6,940 votes. Mortimer won the byelection with more than half of the votes cast (51.88%) and a swing from Labour of almost 16%.
The loss of Hartlepool, which was declared at about 7am on Friday, leaves Labour’s leader, Keir Starmer, facing huge questions over the future direction of his party as yet more of its lifelong supporters vote for Boris Johnson’s Conservatives.
The Tories won 15,529 votes, with Labour recording 8,589, according to official results. Jill Mortimer defeated the Labour candidate, Dr Paul Williams, by 6,940 votes. Mortimer won the byelection with more than half of the votes cast (51.88%) and a swing from Labour of almost 16%.
The loss of Hartlepool, which was declared at about 7am on Friday, leaves Labour’s leader, Keir Starmer, facing huge questions over the future direction of his party as yet more of its lifelong supporters vote for Boris Johnson’s Conservatives.
Labour has also lost 57 City and Town Councils. Scottish Parliament results expected tonight.