By Conservatives lose 200-year-old North Shropshire seat in by-election
The Conservatives have lost the North Shropshire seat they held for nearly 200 years to the Liberal Democrats in the by-election.
Winner Helen Morgan overturned a Tory majority of almost 23,000, declaring that the “party is over” for the PM.
The result follows a turbulent week for Mr Johnson, who has faced mounting criticism over Downing Street parties and the tory rebellion over Covid measures.
Tory MP Sir Roger Gale said the prime minister was on “last orders”, telling BBC Radio Four’s Today Programme “One more strike and he’s out.”
He then added that the by-election “has to be seen as a referendum on the prime minister’s performance”.
The by-election followed the resignation of Owen Paterson, who was MP for North Shropshire since 1997.
Mr Paterson was found to have breached parliamentary rules on lobbying before he resigned from his role.
In her victory speech, Ms Morgan, who won by 5,925 votes, 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.”
Fourteen candidates stood in Thursday’s by-election. Ms Morgan took 17,957 votes, with Conservative Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst amassing 12,032 and Labour’s Ben Wood coming third with 3,686.
This result will add fuel to feelings that Mr Johnson is no longer fit to be Prime Minister now that the safest tory seats are no longer a guaranteed win in elections.
