Starmer: Selby win shows 'demand for change'
Sir Keir Starmer has Selby and Ainsty made history
Last updated 21st Jul 2023
Labour's Sir Keir Starmer describes the win in Selby and Ainsty as historic.
The party leader also said 25-year-old Keir Mather's victory demonstrates the "demand for change".
The Labour leader tweeted: "Congratulations @Mather_Keir, Labour's new MP for Selby and Ainsty!
"Last night, Selby and Ainsty made history. This incredible result shows how powerful the demand for change is.
"Only Labour can deliver that change, and build a better Britain."
Newly-elected MP for Selby & Ainsty Keir Mather said the "historic moment for the Labour Party" in overturning a 20,137 majority was "a ringing endorsement of our plan".
He told our reporter Kathy Green, the cost-of-living crisis was the number one issue on the doorstep throughout the campaign.
Mr Mather said his first priority would be setting up financial support centres in the constituency, for people to get expert help with issues including mortgage payments and energy bills.
He said he supported Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer's policy of keeping the two-child benefit cap, saying: "I think we're going to inherit an absolute economic mess from the Conservatives when we take power and we're going to have to make extremely difficult decisions once we do, and I support the Labour government in doing so."
The swing from Conservative to Labour at Selby & Ainsty of 23.7 percentage points is the second largest swing managed by Labour at a by-election since 1945.
It is not quite as large as the record 29.1 point swing achieved by Labour at the Dudley West by-election in December 1994.
In his speech after being declared the winner of the Selby & Ainsty by-election, Labour's Keir Mather said he "understood the enormity of what has just happened".
He said: "We have rewritten the rules on where Labour can win. People have opened their doors to us and embraced our positive vision for the future.
"The people of Selby & Ainsty have sent a clear message. For too long, Conservatives up here and in Westminster have failed us, and today that changes.
"Over the past few months, speaking to hundreds of people on the doorstep, I've encountered so much hardship. Hardship made worse by 13 years of negligence and complacency from the Conservatives."
After Keir Mather's speech, defeated Conservative candidate Claire Holmes left Selby Leisure Centre, where the count was being held, without talking to reporters.