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Boris Johnson inflatable in the center of Hartlepool: Big hit for the Conservatives
Photo: Owen Humphreys / AP
For the first time in decades, the Conservative Party of British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has stolen the House of Commons mandate from the Labor Party in the north-east English city of Hartlepool.
As the election commission announced on Friday morning, the Tory candidate Jill Mortimer received almost twice as many votes as her Labor rival Paul Williams.
The result in the Labor home country was considered a mood test - and is a great success for the Conservatives.
For Labor leader Keir Starmer, who has been in office for over a year, the defeat is a major setback.
It is also the first victory for the Hartlepool Conservatives since the constituency was founded in 1974.
Johnson and Starmer were campaigning in Hartlepool
Both Johnson and Starmer had traveled to the North Sea city with around 92,000 residents several times during the election campaign.
The by-election became necessary because incumbent Labor MP Mike Hill resigned on allegations of sexual abuse.
The election result has no influence on the composition of Parliament in London.
There the conservatives already have a clear majority.
In Great Britain, regional elections in Scotland and Wales had also taken place on Thursday.
A result is expected in Scotland on Saturday.
The ruling Scottish National Party, the SNP, is hoping for an absolute majority there in order to emphasize its demand for a second independence referendum.
The outcome of the election in Wales is due to be announced on Friday.
According to polls, the ruling Labor Social Democrats, led by First Minister Mark Drakeford, were ahead of the Conservatives and the Plaid Cymru party, which advocates independence for the part of the country.
In England, in addition to municipal and district councils, new mayors have also been appointed in many cities - including London.
Results could even be delayed until Sunday.
fek / dpa
