Sunak’s Conservatives Face 2 Defeats, But Avoid Wipeout in UK Special Elections

The governing Conservative Party in Britain experienced significant setbacks in two out of three special elections on Friday. However, they managed to avoid a complete drubbing by retaining former Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s seat in suburban London.

While the main opposition Labour Party and the centrist Liberal Democrats both achieved victories, overturning substantial Conservative majorities to secure one seat each, the Conservative Party found some solace in their narrow success in Uxbridge and South Ruislip in west London.

Despite this, if the results from Thursday’s elections were replicated in a likely general election next year, the Labour Party would emerge as the largest single party, possibly with a considerable overall majority.

The seat of Selby and Ainsty in northern England was won by the Labour Party, with their 25-year-old candidate Keir Mather securing the party’s second-largest swing at a special election since 1945. Labour Party leader Keir Starmer hailed this as a historic result, showcasing the party’s renewed focus on the priorities of working people with an ambitious and practical plan.

Meanwhile, the Liberal Democrats achieved victory in Somerton and Frome in southwest England, experiencing a significant swing away from the Conservatives. Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey stated that this result reflects the sentiment of people fed up with the Conservative government under Rishi Sunak.

One clear aspect of both elections was the tactical voting by voters from both opposition parties, strategically supporting the party most likely to defeat the Conservative candidate. Facing this level of tactical voting has left many Conservative lawmakers anxious ahead of the potential national vote next year.

Despite the defeats, the current government won’t change as the Conservatives still hold a substantial majority in the House of Commons.

For months, opinion polls have consistently shown Labour with a double-digit lead over the Conservatives nationwide, which has been in power since 2010. The party has been grappling with the repercussions of the turbulent terms of Boris Johnson and his successor, Liz Truss, who resigned after proposing unfunded tax cuts that raised concerns among financial markets and exacerbated a cost-of-living crisis.

Boris Johnson himself quit as Prime Minister last September and left Parliament last month after being accused of misleading the House of Commons regarding lockdown breaches. Other MPs, including an ally of Johnson’s in Selby, and a member of Parliament in Somerton and Frome, resigned amid allegations of misconduct.

Prime Minister Rishi Sunak, who must call a general election by January 2025 at the latest, might consider reshuffling his government in response to the election results.

The focus will also turn to Labour leader Keir Starmer, who has been cautious in outlining his plans for government.

The failure to secure victory in Boris Johnson’s former seat may raise concerns over London Mayor Sadiq Khan’s proposal to extend an anti-pollution zone to all outer boroughs of the capital, imposing daily emissions charges on many older cars and diesel vehicles.

Conservative ministers have sought to portray the overall election results as mixed, pointing out that many governments often face significant defeats in special elections.

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More about UK special elections

• BBC News: “Sunak’s Conservatives suffer defeats in UK special elections”
• The Guardian: “Labour Party and Lib Dems overturn Conservative majorities in special elections”
• Reuters: “UK special elections results and implications for future elections”
• The Independent: “Tactical voting in UK special elections explained”
• Financial Times: “Fallout from turbulent terms of Boris Johnson and Liz Truss”
• Sky News: “Speculation about possible government shakeup after election defeats”
• Metro: “Reaction from Keir Starmer and Ed Davey on election victories”
• The Telegraph: “Impact of election results on current government and majority”
• The Times: “Public opinion trends and polling data”
• The Evening Standard: “Potential implications of election results on environmental policies”