UK Tories lose 2 seats to Labour in by-elections, Sunak blamed
3 Min Read
The main Labour opposition wins its second-largest by-election after a Tory MP quit and another faced backlash over bullying his staff.
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Britain's Prime Minister Rishi Sunak speaks with business leaders during the first meeting of his Business Council inside 10 Downing Street, central London, Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2024. (AP)
In a fresh blow to UK Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, the country's ruling Conservative or Tories Party lost two more parliamentary seats to the Labour Party in by-elections as Sunak struggles to garner support amid a recession.
The main Labour opposition won its second-largest by-election after a Tory MP quit and another faced backlash over bullying his staff.
Labour Party leader Keir Starmer called the results "fantastic" and said, "The Tories have failed. Rishi's recession proves that. That's why we've seen so many former Conservative voters switching directly to this changed Labour Party."
"People want change and are ready to put their faith in a changed Labour Party to deliver it," he added. However, Tory deputy chair James Daly called the results "disappointing" and insisted there was "no love" for Starmer.
Read more: Labour withdraws support for Rochdale candidate over Gaza war remarks
The by-elections serve as a possible threat to Sunak's attempt at a fifth consecutive term in power for the Tories, whose popularity diminished as the UK suffers the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades.
A whopping record of 21 by-elections have been conducted since the last general election in 2019, and the Tories have lost more by-elections in a single parliament than any government since the 1966-70 Labour administration of Harold Wilson, which had 15.
Thursday witnessed former Wellingborough Tory MP Peter Bone's suspension after a probe showed he subjected a staff member to bullying and sexual misconduct, and his partner Helen Harrison was controversially selected as a replacement candidate in the seat.
Then, MP Chris Skidmore's resignation as a protest against Sunak's plans to boost North Sea oil and gas drilling influenced the votes as well. Thus, Labour won the seat with almost 45% of the vote.
Statistics published in December showed that Sunak's favourability dipped to a whopping minus 26.5, dropping in over a one percent estimate value in just a month, essentially indicating that 26.5% more conservative party members do not approve of him, according to results from the ConservativeHome website.
Cabinet members also showed hefty discontent with Sunak, the poll revealed.
Sunak, since taking on his role as PM, has faced tremendous challenges. In September, he was the first prime minister in about a decade to steer clear from attending the annual UN General Assembly (GA) to avoid the risk of embarrassment after the UN Secretary-General, Antonio Guterres, urged world leaders to attend the climate ambition summit he called for on the sidelines of the GA.
