Labour Smashes Two Tory Majorities With By-Election Wins In Wellingborough And Kingswood

Labour has overturned two large Tory majorities with by-election wins in Wellingborough and Kingswood, marking another disappointing set of results for beleaguered Prime Minister Rishi Sunak.

"These are fantastic results in Kingswood and Wellingborough that show people want change and are ready to put their faith in a changed Labour Party to deliver it," Labour leader Keir Starmer said.

In Wellingborough, Labour overturned a majority of more than 18,000. The East Midlands seat will be represented by Gen Kitchen after she secured 13,844 with a majority of 6,436.

She beat Conservative candidate Helen Harrison, the partner of former MP Peter Bone, who received 7,408 votes. Bone removed by a recall petition at the end of last year after an independent watchdog concluded that he carried out acts of bullying and one act of sexual misconduct, which he denies.

Speaking after her victory this morning, Kitchen said: “The people of Wellingborough have spoken for Britain. This is a stunning victory for the Labour party and must send a message from Northamptonshire to Downing Street.”

The seat was last represented by a Labour MP in 2005, having been red through the early years of Tony Blair's government. However, it had become a safe Conservative seat in the following years, with Bone securing a majority of 18,540 at the 2019 general election. 

Helen Harrison said she was "disappointed" by the result. 

In the Kingswood by-election, Labour overturned a majority of more than 11,000 to win. The South Gloucestershire seat will be represented by Damien Egan, the former mayor of Lewisham in London, after he secured 11,1176 votes and a majority of 2,501.

He beat Conservative candidate Sam Bromiley with 8,675 votes, who largely ran his campaign on