‘Seismic win’ in Blackpool South propels Labour’s election push
Labour has pulled off “a seismic win”, according to Party leader Sir Kier Starmer, in clinching the Blackpool South by-election overnight.
The party’s local candidate, Chris Webb, won the seat with 10,825 votes, a massive 26.3% swing in the Brexit-supporting seat, with the Conservatives’ David Jones second on 3,218 votes, narrowly ahead of Reform candidate, Mark Butcher, with 3,101 votes.
The seat was vacated by former Conservative MP, Scott Benton, who resigned in March embroiled in scandal following an investigation by The Times, in which reporters posed as employees of a fake lobbying company, TAHR, that led to a suggestion Benton would be willing to break lobbying rules for money.
Mr Benton did not accept any financial payment arising from the meeting.
The result will deal a huge blow to Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s standing as leader heading into a General Election, and will buoy Labour even further in its bid to unseat the Government.
The North West region had the highest number of local elections in England yesterday with 459 council seats at stake.
The Liberal Democrats remain the largest party in Stockport, though they fell short of securing an overall majority. The Conservatives failed to win any seats back in a borough where they have two MPs.
In Oldham, Labour are no longer the largest party, and lost seats to Independent candidates. Three losses were to candidates of Asian heritage where the war in Gaza was an issue, three others were to independent candidates from hyper local parties.
With 27 seats, Labour remains the largest party and group leader Arooj Shah will seek to form a minority administration and retain her place in the Greater Manchester cabinet.
An early snapshot this morning revealed: Cumbria Police and Crime Commissioner: David Allen (Labour); Bolton: No overall control; Wigan: Labour hold; Chorley: Labour hold; Oldham: No overall control; Sefton: Labour hold; Tameside: Labour hold; Stockport: No overall control; Blackburn with Darwen: 12pm; Manchester: 1pm; Preston 1pm; Burnley: 1.30pm; Hyndburn: 2pm; Knowsley: 2pm; Rossendale: 2pm; Rochdale: 2.30pm; Trafford: 3.30pm; Lancashire PCC: 4pm; Bury: 4pm; Pendle: 4pm; West Lancashire: 8pm.
Results expected tomorrow include: Liverpool City Region Mayor: 12pm; Cheshire PCC: 3pm; Merseyside PCC: 3.30pm; Greater Manchester Mayor: 4pm; Warrington: 4pm, and on Saturday: Salford Council + Mayor: 5pm.
