THE Tories have clung on to Boris Johnson's old seat in Uxbridge – but were dealt bloody noses in North Yorkshire and the South West during yesterday's by-elections.

Labour overturned its largest ever majority at a by-election – a 24 point swing – to win Selby and Ainsty.

And in Somerton and Frome the Lib Dems managed a 29 point swing to swoop up the constituency of disgraced ex-MP David Warburton.

In a major blow to Sir Keir Starmer, a huge anti-ULEZ vote helped Tory candidate Steve Tuckwell defy the polls and claim victory.

Conservative chairman Greg Hands said: "An amazing result in Uxbridge!

"It shows that when Labour run something (like London) they run it badly and Sir Keir Starmer flip flops on ULEZ, showing he can’t be trusted."

READ MORE POLITICS

Tory MP who praised Taliban faces the chop from Commons’ defence committee

‘Woke’ NatWest boss issues apology for ‘de-banking’ Farage over political views

Mr Johnson chimed in: “Fantastic news from Uxbridge.

"This shows the Conservatives can win in London and around the country.”

An opposition spokesperson admitted Sadiq Khan's controversial policy was a "concern for voters" but stopped short of calling for it to be scrapped.

In the South West an overjoyed Lib Dem Leader Sir Ed Davey declared his party are “firmly back in the West Country.”

He said: “The people of Somerton and Frome have spoken for the rest of the country who are fed up with Rishi Sunak’s out-of-touch Conservative government.”

By-elections 2023 results at a glance

Uxbridge and South Ruislip:

• Tory candidate Steve Tuckwell keeps the former seat of Boris Johnson
• Majority is slashed to 495

Selby and Ainsty

• Labour's Keir Mather wins the seat formerly belonging to Nigel Adams
• 24 point swing overturns an old Tory majority of 20,137
• New majority is 4,161

Somerton and Frome

• Lib Dems' Sarah Dyke wins the seat formerly belonging to David Warburton
• 29 point swing overturns an old Tory majority of 19,213
• New majority is 11,008

Selby will now will now be home to parliament's youngest MP.

25-year-old Keir Mather will replace Boris ultra-loyalist Nigel Adams.

Discussing the victory, Veterans Minister Johnny Mercer last night said: “We don’t want parliament to become like the Inbetweeners.”

Shadow Cabinet Minister Baroness Jenny Chapman hit back: "He's a young person but he's not somebody who's full of themselves.

"He's intelligent and he's done a great job."

Most read in The Sun

In the days leading up to yesterday the Tories were expecting – and heavily briefing – a three-seat wipeout.

Managing to hold Uxbridge will be chalked up as a win for Rishi Sunak and an important sign that next year's general election isn't a done deal.

Source: Read Full Article