The Labor Party again defeats Sunak by a large margin in two by-elections

The Labor Party has achieved two historic victories in the by-elections in the English constituencies of Wellingborough and Kingswood.

The results announced in the early hours of this Friday reflect a spectacular turn in favor of the British left, and reinforce the general feeling that Keir Starmer can be the next minister of the United Kingdom when the general elections are held - expectedly next autumn - .

It is common to hold partial elections throughout the legislature, to replace those deputies who may have died, who are ill or—in most cases—who have resigned or who have been expelled by the party.

The two cases that have led to the Wellingborough and Kingswood elections also have a high dose of symbolism.

In the first constituency, the cause that called the polls was the fall from grace of Peter Bone, a historic conservative, staunch defender of Brexit, accused of workplace abuse and sexual harassment of a parliamentary advisor.

In Kingswood, Chris Skidmore resigned from his seat after the Sunak Government's u-turn on environmental issues, granting new oil and gas extraction licences.

“People want change,” celebrated Labor leader Keir Starmer, upon learning of his party's two victories.

“We have returned to serve the citizens, and we will work tirelessly to fulfill our commitments,” he added.

The two constituencies were territories with a traditionally conservative majority.

In the case of Wellingborough, the Labor candidate, Gen Kitchen, has won almost 46% of the votes, compared to 24.6% for the conservative Helen Harrison.

A change of 28.5% (18,500 votes) compared to the previous result.

In Kingswood, Labor's Damien Egan obtained 44.9% compared to 34.9% for Conservative Sam Bromiley.

Labor's Gen Kitchen celebrates her victory in the Wellingborough constituency with her family this Friday.

Joe Giddens (AP)

The general analysis of the results points out two equally relevant factors.

Firstly, Labor's victory has been resounding, but tempered by a very weak turnout (around 40%) and by the fragmentation of the right-wing vote.

Nigel Farage's shadow

In both votes, Reform UK

(Reform Party), of which the historic populist politician who defends Brexit, Nigel Farage, remains honorary president, has obtained support of 13% and 10.4%, respectively.

He has collected the votes of a conservative electorate that once expressed its vital discontent by voting against the EU and today does so by voting against the figure of Sunak and the deterioration of the quality of life throughout the country.

And this despite the fact that Reform UK had not put much effort into these by-elections.

“The results show that they have become a contender to consider, after finishing third in both places,” said electoral analyst John Curtice, one of the most respected voices on the subject, on the BBC.

“There is a battle underway for the votes of those voters dissatisfied with the Conservative Party, and Reform UK

has already set the bar for its possibilities,” said Curtice.

The data, against Sunak

What a week in politics gives.

The leader of the Labor Party, Keir Starmer, tried on Monday to right the serious internal situation of his party with cross accusations of anti-Semitism and a couple of expelled candidates.

On Thursday, however, the focus turned to Rishi Sunak and his promises of economic improvement, after it was learned that the United Kingdom had entered a technical recession at the end of 2023.

The results of the by-elections, no matter how discounted they were by the

Tories

, increase the feeling that the calendar is running out, and Sunak will be unable to turn around the electoral defeat announced by all the polls.

“We are not yet out of the danger, we have had two very complicated years as a country, but we are making progress on all the objectives to which the Government committed,” said Sunak, in an appearance to try to save face in the face of an incontestable defeat.

“We have halved inflation, the economy exceeded expectations last year and public debt is on a downward path;

In addition, we have reduced the number of illegal immigrants arriving in the country, and health waiting lists have been reduced,” defended the prime minister.

The conservative leaders have admitted that the results are disappointing, but above all they have revealed with their warnings the fear inspired by the resurgence of populism on the right of the party that could complicate things much more.

“Their [Reform UK’s] ambition is to block the Conservatives and help get Starmer into Downing Street.

“They have made it very clear,” the president of the Conservative Party, Richard Holden, accused his rivals on the BBC.

The real bête noire of the

Tories

, however, is not the current leader of Reform UK, Richard Tice, but Farage himself, who has been lavished on the media in recent months and maintains his popularity among the electorate that voted for Brexit.

“If I see a truly historic opportunity to participate in the next general elections and take a good number of seats from the Conservative Party, I will probably do it,” he announced this morning to the terror of many

Tories

.

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