The Liberal Democrats have delivered a fresh blow to prime minister Boris Johnson in the North Shropshire by-election, after their candidate Helen Morgan overturned a majority of nearly 23,000 votes to secure the seat.
The Conservatives had held the constituency for almost 200 years.
Speaking after her historic victory, settled by a 5,925-vote majority, Morgan told reporters that the “party is over” for Johnson.
She said: “Tonight, the people of North Shropshire have spoken on behalf of the British people. They have said loudly and clearly, 'Boris Johnson, the party is over.'
“Your government, run on lies and bluster, will be held accountable. It will be scrutinised, it will be challenged and it can and will be defeated.”
Lib Dem leader Sir Ed Davey echoed his candidate’s words, calling the result a “watershed moment” in British politics.
Currently self-isolating at home, Sir Ed said over video: “Millions of people are fed up with Boris Johnson and his failure to provide leadership throughout the pandemic and last night the voters of North Shropshire spoke for all of them.”
The beleaguered prime minister has recently come under fire for controversy over parties held in Downing Street while the country was in lockdown over December last year, as well as sleaze accusations.
In recent weeks, the Conservative Party has also been fined over its failure to properly declare the financing for renovations of the PM’s Downing Street flat, where he resides with his wife, Carrie Johnson.
Meanwhile, Johnson's Plan B Covid measures were met with significant rebellion in the Commons from his own MPs this week, and he was only able to enforce Covid passports thanks to Labour’s support in the parliamentary vote.
In the aftermath of the by-election, Conservative MP Sir Roger Gale warned that Johnson was on “last orders”, but Tory party chairman Oliver Dowden talked down the idea that a change of leadership could be imminent.
“I know that the voters of North Shropshire are fed up and they wanted to give us a kicking...we've heard that message loud and clear. But I don’t think this amounts to a sea-change,” Dowden said.
Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst, the candidate put forward by the Tories in the by-election, said it was time for his party “to reflect” following the defeat.
He said: “We are 11 years into Conservative government. Our elections are never an easy thing to do.
“But of course, we do need to reflect upon the result, and I am sure as a party we will do that.”
Speaking on Friday morning, the PM accepted responsibility for the "disappointing" result, adding that he "accepted the verdict" in "all humility".
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Tory MP Owen Paterson, who himself came under fierce criticism after being adjudged to have broken parliamentary lobbying rules.
The episode ignited debate over MPs and their second jobs and culminated in changes to the MPs' code of conduct.
14 candidates stood in the North Shropshire by-election. Among the frontrunners, Morgan won the seat with 17,957 votes, Dr Shastri-Hurst took 12,032 for the Conservatives, and Labour’s Ben Wood came third with 3,686.
Photo by Element5 Digital on Unsplash
