Sunak avoids triple by-election defeat after Tories hold Uxbridge

Rishi Sunak has narrowly avoided three by-election losses. Overnight, the Conservatives lost Somerton and Frome to the Liberal Democrats, overturning a majority of 19,213 to lead by 11,008 votes, and Selby and Ainsty to Labour, with Keir Starmer’s party overturning its largest ever majority at a by-election in post-war history. However, the Tories managed to narrowly cling on in Boris Johnson’s former seat of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, with a reduced majority of just 495 votes. It means today’s results are a mixed bag for Starmer and Sunak.

As is often the case with by-elections, it is Liberal Democrat leader Ed Davey who has the most to be happy about – chalking up another big by-election win following strong results in the local elections. The Liberal Democrats see their victory in Somerton as evidence that the party could do well in a general election, not just in the so-called blue wall – southern seats, including the commuter belt – but also in the south west, a former stronghold prior to the 2015 election.