Labour overturns huge Tory majority to win Tamworth byelection

Keir Starmer's party wins seat for first time since bellwether byelection in 1996

Historic:' Labour takes Dorries' former seat in Mid Bedfordshire byelection

Labour has overturned a near 20,000-vote Conservative majority in Tamworth, winning the area for the first time since a bellwether byelection in 1996.

Labour's Sarah Edwards received 11,719 votes ahead of Andrew Cooper, the Tory candidate, who received 10,403 - a majority of 1,316 for Labour. It was a 23.89% swing to Keir Starmer's party. Voter turnout was low at 35.87%, little more than half the 2019 figure. Thursday night proved to be a signal occasion for Labour which also swept away a huge Tory majority to win Mid Bedfordshire, the former seat of Nadine Dorries.