Labour hold Newport West in by-election despite turnout slump
Uncertainty over Brexit and resurgence UKIP sees Labour’s majority slashed in Leave-voting Welsh city
Labour has retained the Newport West parliamentary seat but saw support for the party slump in a by-election marred by low turnout.
The seat in south Wales was held by MP Paul Flynn for 32 years until his death in February, and is viewed as a Labour stronghold, The Guardian reports. The constituency’s new MP will be Ruth Jones, a former president of the Wales Trade Unions Congress (TUC).
Her victory was hard won, however, with Labour hampered by a turnout of just 37.1%, compared with 67.5% in the 2017 general election. Jones racked up a decreased majority of 1,951 votes over Conservative rival Matthew Evans, reports the Daily Mail.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
By contrast, Flynn’s majority in the 2017 election was 5,658.
Jones paid tribute to her predecessor in her victory speech, saying: “Everyone knew someone helped by Paul Flynn.”
Meanwhile, Eurosceptic party UKIP saw a significant resurgence in yesterday’s contest, finishing third after more than doubling their votes compared with the previous by-election.
Newport voted Leave by a margin of 56% to 44% in the 2016 EU referendum.
All three leading parties “claimed they were satisfied with the result but expressed concern about the mood they had come across while campaigning”, says The Guardian.
Offering his “warmest congratulations” to Jones on social media, Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn wrote: “This was always going to be a difficult by-election at a time when people are disillusioned with Westminster politics and the Tories’ failure to negotiate a Brexit deal.
“However, last night’s result demonstrates that the people of Newport and Wales are rejecting austerity and know that Labour is offering a real alternative.”
BBC Wales political editor Felicity Evans says the result is a “good hold for Labour”, adding that the Conservatives “will be pleased to have held off the UKIP challenge for second place when the UK government is under such pressure over Brexit”.
However, this by-election “should not be taken as a barometer for for future elections”, as politics “is a rollercoaster right now”, Evans adds.
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
-
How social media is limiting political content
The Explainer Meta's 'extraordinary move' to have less politics in users' feeds could be 'actively muzzling civic action'
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
'Unthinkable tragedy'
Today's Newspapers A roundup of the headlines from the US front pages
By The Week Staff Published
-
Passenger: 'pleasingly off-kilter' ITV crime drama
The Week Recommends There's 'plenty to be feared' in this British murder mystery set in a quiet northern town
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
Vaughan Gething: a new leader for Wales
Talking point Former minister for the economy tasked with revitalising struggling country after being elected First Minister
By The Week UK Published
-
Will Aukus pact survive a second Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question US, UK and Australia seek to expand 'game-changer' defence partnership ahead of Republican's possible return to White House
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
It's the economy, Sunak: has 'Rishession' halted Tory fightback?
Today's Big Question PM's pledge to deliver economic growth is 'in tatters' as stagnation and falling living standards threaten Tory election wipeout
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Stormont power-sharing in sight: 'good news' for Northern Ireland?
Talking Point Unionists vote to end two-year boycott after agreeing legislative package to address post-Brexit trading arrangements
By The Week UK Published
-
Why your local council may be going bust
The Explainer Across England, local councils are suffering from grave financial problems
By The Week UK Published
-
Rishi Sunak and the right-wing press: heading for divorce?
Talking Point The Telegraph launches 'assault' on PM just as many Tory MPs are contemplating losing their seats
By Keumars Afifi-Sabet, The Week UK Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published