Displaying their bleak chances in the UK’s expected general election next year, British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak’s Conservative Party suffered two major defeats in three special elections held on Thursday.
However, the party managed to narrowly avoid a wipeout with a surprise victory in former PM Boris Johnson’s seat in Uxbridge and South Ruislip by 495 votes.
The main opposition Labor Party won the seats in Selby and Ainsty, while the Liberal Democrats won Somerton and Frome, both previously considered as Conservative strongholds. The defeats are most likely to leave Conservative lawmakers anxious as the next general election is likely to be held next year.
Meanwhile, the BBC reported that Keir Mather, the Labor Party candidate who won the by-election in Selby and Ainsty, is the youngest British MP in Westminster at 25 years of age.
The result of the by-elections is a sign that voters are rejecting the Conservative Party over a serious of troubles including but not limited to the struggling British economy and the decline in public services.
The Conservatives still have a large majority in the House of Commons. If the Labor Party replicates the results of the by-elections at the general poll, it could emerge as the largest single party.
Meanwhile, Sunak could initiate a cabinet shuffle as the lawmakers of his party are grappling with Thursday’s results. Many experts believe that the results show that Sunak is struggling to stop his party’s possible downfall at the general election.
(with AP inputs)
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