On July 21, 2023, the British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s governing Conservatives faced setbacks in by-elections. They lost two strategically important seats: Wakefield to Labour and Tiverton and Honiton to the Liberal Democrats.
The margin of defeat in Wakefield was 4,925 votes, while in Tiverton and Honiton, it was over 24,000 votes. However, they managed to retain Boris Johnson’s old constituency of Uxbridge and South Ruislip, but by a narrow margin of just 422 votes.
Losing the once-safe seats is a major blow, especially Wakefield, a traditional Labour stronghold. This outcome reflects the challenges the Conservatives are currently facing. The british by-elections came amid numerous scandals, including the “Partygate” revelation where officials attended parties during COVID-19 lockdown.
Additionally, Johnson’s former Chancellor Rishi Sunak resigned due to the government’s handling of the cost-of-living crisis.
These results show a decline in voter confidence towards the Conservative government. With the 2024 general election approaching, this poses a significant problem for the party. Failing to improve their standing in the polls could lead to a Labour victory, replacing the current government.
