Conservative Party Chairman Oliver Dowden has resigned as Boris Johnson suffered a double by-election humiliation overnight
In a letter to the Prime Minister Dowden said that “We cannot carry on as business as usual. Someone must take responsibility & I have concluded that, in these circumstances, it would not be right for me to remain in office.“
He added that “Our supporters are distressed and disappointed by recent events, and I share their feelings”.
In Tiverton and Honiton the Liberal Democrats overturned a 24,000 majority to take the seat whilst Labour reclaim the so called red wall seat in Wakefield
The Lib Dems candidate Richard Foord received 22,537 in The Tiverton seat,an almost 30% swing in vote share, while Conservative candidate Helen Hurford came in second with 16,393 votes
Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said: “The Liberal Democrats have made political history with this stunning win. It is the biggest by-election victory our country has ever seen.
“This should be a wake-up call for all those Conservative MPs propping up Boris Johnson. They cannot afford to ignore this result.
“The people of Tiverton and Honiton have spoken for the country. The public is sick of Boris Johnson’s lies and law-breaking and it’s time for Conservative MPs to finally do the right thing and sack him.
In Wakefield Simon Lightwood became the city’s new MP with 13,166 votes – a majority of 4,925,telling Boris Johnson,
“your contempt for this country is no longer tolerated, your government has no ideas, no plan to address the big issues facing our country.”
Labour leader Keir Starmer said:
“Wakefield has shown the country has lost confidence in the Tories. This result is a clear judgement on a Conservative Party that has run out of energy and ideas. Britain deserves better.”
