BREAKING: Labour win Wakefield by-election in damaging defeat for Boris Johnson
Labour have won a by-election in Wakefield, a seat that went Conservative in 2019
Last updated 24th Jun 2022
Labour has won a by-election in Wakefield, a seat taken by the Conservatives at the 2019 General Election.
Simon Lightwood has been elected as the new MP for the West Yorkshire constituency, after former MP Imran Ahmad Khan was jailed over sex offences.
Mr. Lightwood picked up 13,164 votes, a swing of over 12% away from the Conservatives.
Wakefield was one of the so-called red wall seats won by the Tories in the 2019 general election after being Labour since the 1930s.
Mr Lightwood said: "The people of Wakefield have spoken on behalf of the British people.
"They have said, unreservedly: Boris Johnson, your contempt for this country is no longer tolerated."
Labour leader Sir 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. Wakefield has voted Labour because we have the solutions for the challenges facing the British people.
"The Labour Party is back on the side of working people, winning seats where we lost before, and ready for government."
Double by-election blow for Boris Johnson
It was a bruising defeat for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who's Conservative Party also lost in the Devon constituency of Tiverton and Honiton.
The Lib Dems have claimed victory there, saying earlier in the night "This is an historic victory for the Liberal Democrats and a devastating blow for those Conservative MPs who continue to prop up Boris Johnson."
Turnout in the Wakefield by-election was 39.09%, Wakefield Council said.
Some 27,205 verified ballots were cast out of a total electorate of 69,601.
The turnout in the 2019 general election was 64.15%.
More to follow.