Lib Dems win North Shropshire by-election as Tories suffer huge defeat

The Liberal Democrats have overturned a huge Conservative party majority to win the North Shropshire by-election.

Helen Morgan took what's been an ultra-safe seat for the Tories by 5,925 votes. She won 17,957 votes, with Tory candidate Neil Shastri-Hurst coming in second on 12,032.

The by-election was triggered after the resignation of Owen Paterson who was found to have broken lobbying rules. The former minister, who's held the constituency seat since 1997, had an almost 3,000 majority in the in the 2019 general election. Helen Morgan was also a candidate for the Liberal Democrats that year.

The result is a big blow to the Prime Minister's leadership as not only was the vote triggered by the sleaze scandal, it comes after reports of lockdown parties at Downing Street last Christmas

Earlier this week as well, the Prime Minister suffered a big rebellion from Conservative backbenchers over his new coronavirus restrictions as the Omicron variant surged.

In her victory speech, Helen Morgan said; "Tonight, the people of North Shropshire have spoken on behalf of the British people. They have said loudly and clearly, 'Boris Johnson, the party is over',"

"Your Government, run on lies and bluster, will be held accountable. It will be scrutinised, it will be challenged and it can and will be defeated."

Leaving the election count in defeat, Mr Shastri-Hurst was asked if the Prime Minister was to blame for the dismal result.

"We've run a positive campaign here, I'm extremely proud of the work that everybody's done. Of course it's a disappointing result for us," he told our reporter.

Asked if the party needs to change, he said: "We're 11 years into a Conservative Government, by-elections are never an easy thing to do."

Asked on Wednesday if Mr Johnson would quit if North Shropshire falls, the Prime Minister's press secretary said: "We are fighting for every vote."

Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey, in a statement from isolation after testing positive for Covid-19, said: "This result is a watershed moment in our politics and offers hope to people around the country that a brighter future is possible.

"Millions of people are fed up with Boris Johnson and his failure to provide leadership throughout the pandemic and last night the voters of North Shropshire spoke for all of them.

"From Buckinghamshire to Shropshire, lifelong Conservatives have turned to the Liberal Democrats in their droves and sent a clear message to the Prime Minister that the party is over."

The turnout in North Shropshire was 46.3%, or 38,110 voters.

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