Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced a significant setback as his party suffered defeats in two parliamentary elections that they would typically have expected to win. The Conservative Party lost to the resurgent Labour Party in Selby and Ainsty, a region in the north of England where the Conservatives had a strong majority. Additionally, the Liberal Democrats won the seat in Somerton and Frome, an affluent area in southwest England.
Although the Conservatives managed to hold on to a third seat in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, the constituency previously held by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour made significant gains in the vote share. These results indicate that Sunak’s leadership is under pressure and suggest that his government is on track for an electoral defeat in the next general election, expected next year.
Sunak has struggled to reverse the declining fortunes of the Conservative Party during his nine months in office. Scandals, a struggling economy, and a decline in public services have made his party increasingly unpopular. On the other hand, the results suggest that the Labour Party, under the leadership of Keir Starmer, is poised to take power when Sunak calls for a general election.
By law, a general election must take place by January 2025. Most observers believe that Sunak will call for it in the fall of 2024, if not earlier, to avoid holding the election in the middle of winter. The recent by-elections served as a significant mid-term test for Sunak, who assumed power after Liz Truss’s short-lived premiership last fall.
The Conservatives narrowly survived in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, where Labour aimed to claim the seat previously held by Boris Johnson. However, in Selby, Labour managed to overturn a significant deficit and win the seat. Both of these regions are crucial for Labour if they hope to secure a parliamentary majority in the next election.
These by-elections were triggered by a committee of lawmakers finding that Johnson had lied to Parliament, leading to his resignation. Nigel Adams, a former Conservative lawmaker and close ally of Johnson, resigned in solidarity shortly after. Adding to the Conservatives’ troubles, they suffered a significant loss in Somerton and Frome to the Liberal Democrats, who have been gaining support from former Conservative voters in the affluent “Blue Wall” region of southern England.
These results represent a significant rejection of Sunak’s Conservative Party, which has been in power for 13 years and has seen its opinion poll ratings decline towards the end of Johnson’s tenure and since. Sunak will now face the challenge of stabilizing his leadership and fending off any potential challenges within his party. However, time is running out for him to reverse his government’s fortunes, as a cost of living crisis, struggling public services, high inflation, and a series of scandals have turned public opinion against the Conservatives and intensified calls from opposition parties for an early general election.
What were the key regions in which the Conservative Party faced defeats in the recent parliamentary elections?
Al election.
In recent parliamentary elections, Britain’s Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his Conservative Party faced significant setbacks as they suffered defeats in two key regions. These defeats came as a surprise, as the Conservatives would typically have expected to win these seats. The resurgent Labour Party emerged victorious in Selby and Ainsty, an area in the north of England where the Conservatives previously had a strong majority. Additionally, the Liberal Democrats claimed victory in Somerton and Frome, a prosperous region in the southwest of the country.
While the Conservatives managed to retain a seat in Uxbridge and South Ruislip, previously held by former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Labour made significant gains in the vote share, reflecting a potential shift in public support. These results underline the increasing pressure on Sunak’s leadership and indicate that his government may be headed towards defeat in the upcoming general election, which is expected next year.
During his nine months in office, Sunak has struggled to revive the declining fortunes of the Conservative Party. Scandals, an ailing economy, and a decline in public services have contributed to his party’s decreasing popularity. On the other hand, these election results suggest that the Labour Party, led by Keir Starmer, is positioning itself to seize power when Sunak decides to call for a general election.
