Tory MPs will be left rattled after Reform UK came within 100 votes of pushing them into third place in the Blackpool South by-election.
Amid a very strong night for Richard Tice’s insurgent party, Reform UK won just 117 votes fewer than the Conservatives, who in 2019 won the constituency with a 3,690 majority.
Labour took the seat as expected, but with a 26% swing marks their third best swing from the Conservatives in a by-election in history.
Reacting to the win, a jubilant Keir Starmer said the “seismic” result is the “most important result today”.
“This seismic win in Blackpool South is the most important result today. This is the one contest where voters had the chance to send a message to Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives directly, and that message is an overwhelming vote for change.
“The swing towards the Labour Party in Blackpool South is truly historic and shows that we are firmly back in the service of working people.
“I am so proud of the positive campaign we ran. To those who have put their trust in us in Blackpool, and those considering giving Labour their vote, we are ready to serve your interests.
“Our new Labour MP Chris Webb has shown that after years of neglect with the Tories, there is a better alternative. The message to Rishi Sunak is clear. It’s time for change, it’s time for a general election.”
Labour won 59% of the vote on a 32% turnout, with the Conservatives on 18% and Reform UK on 17%.
Speaking ahead of the declaration this morning, Reform UK leader Richard Tice said his party is “rapidly becoming the real opposition to Labour, whether it’s in the North, the Midlands, we know it’s the case in Wales”.
“This is a very good day for Reform UK. It’s also a good day for democracy, actually, because the Great British people have got a serious alternative to consider when they want to go and vote.”He clashed with Tory deputy chairman Jonathan Gullis, saying he had no qualms in taking votes and seats from the Conservatives after they failed voters since 2019.
He once again ruled out any potential electoral pact with the Tories, as the Brexit Party did in 2019.
He said: “Frankly, it would be a really good time for us to get more votes cast than the Conservative Party”.
Last night Mr Tice hailed “outstanding” results in Sunderland, where the party reached new heights of support.
Reform beat the Tories into second place in more than half of the council seats in the area, securing 32.3% in one ward while the Tories collapsed by 22.3%.
In other seats, they secured 15.8%, 19.3%, 18.8% and 16.8%, all while the Tories fell by similar margins.
He added: “We expect to beat Tories in majority of 25 seats in Sunderland”.
Speaking on the BBC’s election results show, expert Sir John Curtice said the Conservatives should be “concerned” about Reform and this is going to be a “difficult night” for Rishi Sunak.
“This is a very Eurosceptic part of the country, it’s also somewhere where UKIP did well in the local elections in the past.
“We’ve now seen Reform out-poll the Conservatives in each of the ward results we’ve got in from Sunderland so far.
“The Conservative vote is well, well down on 2021, indeed it’s even down on this time last year, so at least in this early result the Conservatives do have reason to be concerned about what’s happening in Eurosceptic parts of the country where Reform do stand.
“Early signs at least suggest it’s going to be a difficult night for the Conservatives.”
