Tory win in Sleaford by-election leaves Labour red-faced
Conservative candidate Caroline Johnson fends off Ukip, but Labour crash to fourth place
The Conservatives saw off their Ukip rivals in the Sleaford and North Hykeham by-election, in a night reassuring to Theresa May but embarrassing for Labour, which limped in at fourth place.
Local doctor Caroline Johnson won the Lincolnshire seat with 17,570 votes, ahead of Ukip's Victoria Ayling, who followed with 4,426 votes.
Labour managed a mere 3,363 votes, coming in behind the Lib Dems, who took 3,606.
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.
It was an "embarrassing" slip for the party, The Guardian says, falling from second place in last year's general election to fourth place now. In a "stark warning" for the party, their slice of the vote was down 7.02 per cent, while the Lib Dems' share rose by 5.33 per cent.
Labour's Jim Clarke, a refuse collector, "put in a valiant effort", but his campaign's arguments to protect the NHS failed to sway an electorate still obsessed over the outcome of Brexit, it adds.
The Daily Mail also foretold disaster for the party, saying it had been "put to the sword again" and labelling the result "humiliating". It predicts much soul-searching among the Jeremy Corbyn camp and attributes Labour's stance on immigration as pushing voters towards Ukip.
Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said the result was evidence of his party gaining anti-Brexit support, following on from its surprise win against Zac Goldsmith in the Richmond Park by-election last week.
"With Labour yet again nowhere and after losing their deposit in Richmond, the Liberal Democrats are the real opposition to the Conservative Brexit government," Farron said.
Labour MP Vernon Coaker held a similar view, saying: "The challenge for us was because of Brexit. Everything was about Brexit. The messages about the A&E, the NHS, the messages about infrastructure - all of that got lost to an extent in the swirl around Brexit."
What's bad for Labour is good for the Conservatives, of course, and the BBC said the result would likely give "quiet comfort" to May after Ukip failed to deliver on its promises to send a message to the Prime Minister for - in their view - "backsliding on Brexit".
The seat was previously held for the Tories by Stephen Phillips, who resigned last month over "irreconcilable policy differences" with the Prime Minister.
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
-
'The House under GOP rule has become a hostile workplace'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
The Shohei Ohtani gambling scandal is about more than bad bets
In The Spotlight The firestorm surrounding one of baseball's biggest stars threatens to upend a generational legacy and professional sports at large
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Feds raid Diddy homes in alleged sex trafficking case
Speed Read Homeland Security raided the properties of hip hop mogul Sean "Diddy" Combs
By Peter Weber, The Week US 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
-
Farewell to Theresa May: a PM consumed by Brexit
Talking Point Maidenhead MP standing down at next general election
By The Week UK Published
-
Britain's biggest political donors
The Explainer With the 2024 general election set to be the highest-spending contest ever we look at who is giving to which party and why
By The Week UK Published
-
Can Boris Johnson save Rishi Sunak?
Today's Big Question Former PM could 'make the difference' between losing the next election and annihilation
By The Week UK Published
-
Liz Truss and her bid to woo the American far-right
Why Everyone's Talking About Former PM pitching herself as 'bridge in transatlantic conservative movement'
By 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
-
What will £28bn green investment U-turn cost Labour?
Today's Big Question Dropping flagship pledge 'will confirm workers' scepticism of the endless promises of jam tomorrow', said union leader
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