Keir Starmer has reason for cheer this morning after his party comfortably held the City of Chester following yesterday’s by-election. Labour candidate Samantha Dixon increased the majority her predecessor Christian Matheson won in the 2019 general election from 6,164 to 10,974. Labour had a swing of just over 13 per cent from the Conservatives – securing 61 per cent of the vote.
Following the result, the new Labour MP was quick to pitch the result as damning for the Tories: 'Tonight the people of Chester have sent a clear message. They have said Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives no longer have a mandate to govern'. Dixon said she was confident that in a general election 'Labour will win as decisively as I have done today'.
Labour's victory in Chester will serve to further boost Starmer's confidence
So, how damning is the result for Sunak? It's the first electoral test he has faced since entering 10 Downing Street in October.
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