Victory for Lib Dems in Tiverton and Honiton by-election

Richard Foord overturned a 24,000 Tory majority to win

The new MP for Tiverton and Honiton, Lib Dem Richard Foord
Author: Sophie SquiresPublished 24th Jun 2022
Last updated 24th Jun 2022

It's a double defeat for the Conservatives with by-election losses overnight - with one seat going to Labour, and the other to the Liberal Democrats.

In Tiverton and Honiton in Devon - new Lib Dem MP Richard Foord overturned a Tory majority of more than 24,000 to win - a swing of 29.9%.

It ranks as the biggest majority ever overturned at a by-election.

WATCH: Victory for Lib Dems in Tiverton and Honiton by-election

Mr Foord becomes the first Lib Dem MP in Devon since Sarah Wollaston, who defected from the Tories in 2019 to the short-lived Change UK and subsequently the Lib Dems.

The former army major declared the result a political "shockwave": "Tonight, the people of Tiverton and Honiton have spoken for Britain. They’ve sent a loud and clear message; it’s time for Boris Johnson to go – and go now."

The by-election was triggered after former Conservative MP Neil Parish resigned after admitting to watching pornography in the House of Commons.

Elsewhere, Labour's reclaimed Wakefield, which it lost in 2019. Simon Lightwood becomes the MP for the West Yorkshire constituency.

Full result of Tiverton & Honiton by-election:

  • Richard Foord – Liberal Democrats: 22,537
  • Helen Hurford – Conservatives: 16,393
  • Liz Pole – Labour: 1,562
  • Gill Westcott – Green: 1,064
  • Andy Foan – Reform UK: 481
  • Ben Walker – UKIP 241
  • Jordan Donoghue-Morgan – Heritage Party: 167
  • Frankie Rufolo – For Britain: 146

Turnout: 42,707 (52.3%)

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