United Kingdom: Labor opposition wins double victory in partial legislative elections
In the United Kingdom, the double victory of the Labor opposition during partial legislative elections is a hard blow for the conservative government and particularly for the Prime Minister, Rishi Sunak, in the middle of an election year.
Keir Starmer, leader of the British Labor Party, on January 23, 2024 in the UK House of Commons. © Maria Unger / UK PARLIAMENT via REUTERS
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Keir Starmer's British Labor Party won two victories in by-elections. The path to Downing Street seems clear for the poll favorite who welcomed this “
tremendous result
”. For Labor, in these two constituencies as for the rest of the country, these results “
show that people want change
”, after 13 years of the Conservative party in power.
This double victory is also a symbol, because Labor wins historically conservative strongholds in central England. Sarah Edwards won Tamworth by 1,316 votes, while the Conservatives lost the Mid-Bedfordshire seat by 1,192 votes. These constituencies had never elected a Labor MP since their creation 105 years ago, reports correspondent in London,
Sidonie Gaucher
.
For the Conservatives, this is the most bitter defeat in a by-election since 1945. This result brings to 10 the number of by-elections lost by the majority since the last legislative elections in December 2019. While Rishi Sunak promised to revive economic growth, the UK fell into recession in the second half of last year as high interest rates and inflation put pressure on household and business finances.
The Tories '
failed
', 'Rishi's recession proves it', '
that's why we've seen so many Tory voters move straight to this changed Labor Party
', Keir Starmer says. This insistence on highlighting the change made by the party since he took over almost four years ago comes as Labor has seen the specter of anti-Semitism resurface in its ranks, and Keir Starmer has tried to eradicate, after comments deemed anti-Semitic or anti-Israel by two candidates.
(And with AFP)
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