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Tories win Copeland by-election as Labour holds Stoke Tories in historic by-election Copeland win as Labour holds Stoke
(35 minutes later)
The Conservatives have won the Copeland by-election, beating Labour in an area it represented for more than 80 years.The Conservatives have won the Copeland by-election, beating Labour in an area it represented for more than 80 years.
Trudy Harrison won with 13,748 votes to Labour's Gillian Troughton's 11,601.Trudy Harrison won with 13,748 votes to Labour's Gillian Troughton's 11,601.
Mrs Harrison hailed the victory - the first by-election gain by a governing party since 1982 - as "a truly historic event".Mrs Harrison hailed the victory - the first by-election gain by a governing party since 1982 - as "a truly historic event".
Labour's Gareth Snell held Stoke-on-Trent Central with 7,853 votes, seeing off a challenge from UKIP leader Paul Nuttall who got 5,233.Labour's Gareth Snell held Stoke-on-Trent Central with 7,853 votes, seeing off a challenge from UKIP leader Paul Nuttall who got 5,233.
Eleven famous by-electionsEleven famous by-elections
Live reaction from Stoke-on-TrentLive reaction from Stoke-on-Trent
Live reaction in CumbriaLive reaction in Cumbria
Labour had held both seats since their creation but was forced to defend them when two former frontbenchers, Tristram Hunt and Jamie Reed, resigned as MPs.Labour had held both seats since their creation but was forced to defend them when two former frontbenchers, Tristram Hunt and Jamie Reed, resigned as MPs.
Copeland, created in 1983, and its predecessor constituency Whitehaven have returned Labour MPs since 1935.Copeland, created in 1983, and its predecessor constituency Whitehaven have returned Labour MPs since 1935.
Mrs Harrison, who had been joined by Prime Minister Theresa May on the campaign trail, got 44.3% of the vote, increasing the Conservatives' vote share by more than 8%. She overturned a Labour majority of more than 2,564 to take the seat by 2,147 votes - a swing of more than 6%.Mrs Harrison, who had been joined by Prime Minister Theresa May on the campaign trail, got 44.3% of the vote, increasing the Conservatives' vote share by more than 8%. She overturned a Labour majority of more than 2,564 to take the seat by 2,147 votes - a swing of more than 6%.
Professor John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said the Copeland result was the best by-election performance by a governing party in terms of the increase in its share of the vote since January 1966.Professor John Curtice, of Strathclyde University, said the Copeland result was the best by-election performance by a governing party in terms of the increase in its share of the vote since January 1966.
In her victory speech, Mrs Harrison said: "It's been very clear talking to people throughout this campaign that [Labour leader] Jeremy Corbyn doesn't represent them.In her victory speech, Mrs Harrison said: "It's been very clear talking to people throughout this campaign that [Labour leader] Jeremy Corbyn doesn't represent them.
"They want a party which is on the side of ordinary working people, which will respect the way we voted in the referendum and which will build a country which represents everyone. That's why they voted for me tonight.""They want a party which is on the side of ordinary working people, which will respect the way we voted in the referendum and which will build a country which represents everyone. That's why they voted for me tonight."
BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said the result was an extraordinary achievement for a governing party after seven years of austerity and would strengthen the prime minister's grip on British politics.BBC assistant political editor Norman Smith said the result was an extraordinary achievement for a governing party after seven years of austerity and would strengthen the prime minister's grip on British politics.
Mr Corbyn said Labour's "message was not enough to win through in Copeland" but hailed victory in Stoke as a "decisive rejection of UKIP's politics of division and dishonesty".Mr Corbyn said Labour's "message was not enough to win through in Copeland" but hailed victory in Stoke as a "decisive rejection of UKIP's politics of division and dishonesty".
He added: "Labour will go further to reconnect with voters and break with the failed political consensus."He added: "Labour will go further to reconnect with voters and break with the failed political consensus."
In Stoke-on-Trent, UKIP had hoped to capitalise on voters' leanings towards Brexit - the area voted strongly to leave the EU in June.In Stoke-on-Trent, UKIP had hoped to capitalise on voters' leanings towards Brexit - the area voted strongly to leave the EU in June.
Analysis: UKIP's missed chance Analysis
By BBC political correspondent Chris Mason in Stoke By BBC political correspondent Tom Bateman in Copeland
The questions facing Labour in Copeland are tumbling UKIP's way here in Stoke. This victory marked an astonishing political moment for the Conservatives.
A party whose very success in achieving the thing they were set up to achieve, Brexit, brought with it a blunt question - what is the point of them now? The last Tory MP to represent this area was born in 1879. Their newest, Trudy Harrison, swept away 80 years of Labour dominance here, saying hers was the party for working people.
The answer sounded like this: winning traditionally Labour seats from Labour. For a governing party to take a seat vacated by the opposition in a by-election is exceptionally rare.
And yet here in Stoke-on-Trent, a hubbub of Brexiteer jubilation after the referendum, they failed. This was the best such performance in half a century when measured by the increase in vote share. It will be hailed in Downing Street.
UKIP insists this seat was always well down their target list. The result followed a bruising campaign, fought over jobs in the nuclear industry and hospital services. Labour's defeated candidate Gillian Troughton was ushered out of the count venue without speaking to reporters.
But on a night where Labour was sufficiently vulnerable to lose a previously rock-solid seat in Cumbria, UKIP's still the bridesmaid not the bride in the Potteries. This outcome will renew questions over Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. He has promised to reconnect with voters. He may have to try in the face of further opposition from his own MPs.
All of which begs two questions: If not here, where? If not now, when?
Both the Labour and UKIP candidates had tough moments during their campaigns, with Mr Snell apologising over old social media posts about women appearing on television and Mr Nuttall facing a backlash over false claims he lost close friends in the Hillsborough tragedy.Both the Labour and UKIP candidates had tough moments during their campaigns, with Mr Snell apologising over old social media posts about women appearing on television and Mr Nuttall facing a backlash over false claims he lost close friends in the Hillsborough tragedy.
But in his victory speech, the new Labour MP Gareth Snell said voters had "chosen the politics of hope over the politics of fear".But in his victory speech, the new Labour MP Gareth Snell said voters had "chosen the politics of hope over the politics of fear".
"This city will not allow ourselves to be defined by last year's referendum and we will not allow ourselves to be divided by the result," he said."This city will not allow ourselves to be defined by last year's referendum and we will not allow ourselves to be divided by the result," he said.
He said the result was "a victory for the whole Labour Party and Labour movement".He said the result was "a victory for the whole Labour Party and Labour movement".
'Not going anywhere''Not going anywhere'
However Labour's share of the vote was 37% - slightly down on the 39.3% it got in 2015.However Labour's share of the vote was 37% - slightly down on the 39.3% it got in 2015.
UKIP got 24.7% of the vote and the Conservatives, who came a close third, 24.4% - both slightly higher than their 2015 vote shares.UKIP got 24.7% of the vote and the Conservatives, who came a close third, 24.4% - both slightly higher than their 2015 vote shares.
Speaking to journalists after the result, UKIP leader Mr Nuttall said his party's "time would come".Speaking to journalists after the result, UKIP leader Mr Nuttall said his party's "time would come".
"There's a lot more to come from us," he said."There's a lot more to come from us," he said.
"We are not going anywhere, I'm not going anywhere.""We are not going anywhere, I'm not going anywhere."
Analysis Analysis: UKIP's missed chance
By BBC political correspondent Tom Bateman in Copeland By BBC political correspondent Chris Mason in Stoke
This victory marked an astonishing political moment for the Conservatives. The questions facing Labour in Copeland are tumbling UKIP's way here in Stoke.
The last Tory MP to represent this area was born in 1879. Their newest, Trudy Harrison, swept away 80 years of Labour dominance here, saying hers was the party for working people. A party whose very success in achieving the thing they were set up to achieve, Brexit, brought with it a blunt question - what is the point of them now?
For a governing party to take a seat vacated by the opposition in a by-election is exceptionally rare. The answer sounded like this: winning traditionally Labour seats from Labour.
This was the best such performance in half a century when measured by the increase in vote share. It will be hailed in Downing Street. And yet here in Stoke-on-Trent, a hubbub of Brexiteer jubilation after the referendum, they failed.
The result followed a bruising campaign, fought over jobs in the nuclear industry and hospital services. Labour's defeated candidate Gillian Troughton was ushered out of the count venue without speaking to reporters. UKIP insists this seat was always well down their target list.
This outcome will renew questions over Jeremy Corbyn's leadership. He has promised to reconnect with voters. He may have to try in the face of further opposition from his own MPs. But on a night where Labour was sufficiently vulnerable to lose a previously rock-solid seat in Cumbria, UKIP's still the bridesmaid not the bride in the Potteries.
All of which begs two questions: If not here, where? If not now, when?
UKIP chairman Paul Oakden said: "The whole narrative of Paul's leadership depends on winning in Stoke is a nonsense."UKIP chairman Paul Oakden said: "The whole narrative of Paul's leadership depends on winning in Stoke is a nonsense."
Labour MP Jack Dromey, who ran Mr Snell's campaign, said: "I think as we win we need necessary humility because there is a view that Labour is no longer listening in the way it should do.Labour MP Jack Dromey, who ran Mr Snell's campaign, said: "I think as we win we need necessary humility because there is a view that Labour is no longer listening in the way it should do.
"I think what we have done in this community is precisely to do that."I think what we have done in this community is precisely to do that.
"Are we yet a credible alternative government? No we're not. But tonight is a decisive moment.""Are we yet a credible alternative government? No we're not. But tonight is a decisive moment."
The by-election results mean the government's majority is now 12 - the same as it was immediately after the general election, as the Conservative's new Copeland seat makes up for the one they lost to the Lib Dems in the Richmond Park by-election. The working majority is 16.The by-election results mean the government's majority is now 12 - the same as it was immediately after the general election, as the Conservative's new Copeland seat makes up for the one they lost to the Lib Dems in the Richmond Park by-election. The working majority is 16.
Copeland results in fullCopeland results in full
Trudy Harrison, Conservatives, 13,748Trudy Harrison, Conservatives, 13,748
Gillian Troughton, Labour, 11,601Gillian Troughton, Labour, 11,601
Rebecca Hanson, Lib Dems, 2,252Rebecca Hanson, Lib Dems, 2,252
Fiona Mills, UKIP, 2,025Fiona Mills, UKIP, 2,025
Michael Guest, Independent, 811Michael Guest, Independent, 811
Jack Lenox, Greens, 515Jack Lenox, Greens, 515
Roy Ivinson, Independent, 116Roy Ivinson, Independent, 116
Turnout - 51.27%Turnout - 51.27%
Stoke-on-Trent Central results in fullStoke-on-Trent Central results in full
Gareth Snell, Labour 7,853Gareth Snell, Labour 7,853
Paul Nuttall, UKIP 5,233Paul Nuttall, UKIP 5,233
Jack Brereton, Conservative 5,154Jack Brereton, Conservative 5,154
Zulfiqar Ali, Lib Dems, 2,083Zulfiqar Ali, Lib Dems, 2,083
Adam Colclough, Greens, 294Adam Colclough, Greens, 294
Barbara Fielding, Independent, 137Barbara Fielding, Independent, 137
The Incredible Flying Brick, Official Monster Raving Loony Party, 127The Incredible Flying Brick, Official Monster Raving Loony Party, 127
David Furness, British National Party Local People First, 124David Furness, British National Party Local People First, 124
Godfrey Davies Christian People's Alliance, 109Godfrey Davies Christian People's Alliance, 109
Mohammed Akram, Independent, 56Mohammed Akram, Independent, 56
Turnout - 36.7%Turnout - 36.7%