How Suffolk MPs reacted to twin Tory by-election losses

The party lost their former stronghold of Tiverton and Honiton to the Liberal Democrats and surrendered Wakefield to Labour at the by-elections on Thursday night.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson acknowledged that the results are “tough” but vowed to “keep going” – despite the losses dealing another blow to his authority.

Meanwhile, Conservative Party co-chairman Oliver Dowden quit, saying he and Tory supporters are “distressed and disappointed by recent events”, telling Mr Johnson: “Someone must take responsibility.”

Oliver Dowden who has resigned as chairman of the Conservative party (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Former Conservative leader Michael Howard urged the Prime Minister to resign for the good of their party and the nation, as he urged the cabinet to consider resigning to force him out.

In Tiverton and Honiton, a seat that had returned nothing but Conservative MPs for 99 years, the Liberal Democrats overturned a Conservative majority of 24,000 votes.

In Suffolk, a similar swing in all constituencies would mean that all seats apart from Jo Churchill's could turn.

However, Therese Coffey, Suffolk Coastal MP, does not believe this could happen.

She said: "It's rare that governments win by-elections, especially midterm. Obviously, I had hoped we would win but I'm not surprised – people know that the government's not going to change as the consequence of a by-election."

Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey celebrates with Richard Foord (right), the newly-elected Liberal Democrat MP for Tiverton and Honiton (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

She cited low voter turnout as a reason why the Tories lost the by-elections, adding: "I don't think you can try and replicate what happens in midterm elections to general elections – history doesn't really show that."

Dr Coffey, who is also Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, added she continues to support the prime minister and said she had nothing to add on Mr Dowden's resignation.

West Suffolk MP and former health secretary Matt Hancock said government needed to "listen" to the result of the election and "focus on the things that really matter to my voters here in West Suffolk, and, of course, voters across the country".

He added: "What I take away from this result is that there is no alternative Prime Minister at all. There's clearly no enthusiasm for Keir Starmer and there's no possibility of a Labour outright majority at the next general election. The only alternative to a Conservative government is Sturgeon and Starmer pulling the country apart.

"There is no way Labour can win the next election without Nicola Sturgeon and the SNP. Her prize for that will be independence or an independence referendum for Scotland. That is a huge, huge risk and we, therefore, need to be focusing totally on what my constituents and others want us to deliver, especially on the economy.

"General elections are about the future, not about the past. I think the next general election is eminently winnable for the Conservative Party. We just have to deliver and spend the next two years making sure the economy is recovering, making sure the health service is in as good a shape as possible after the pandemic, and tackling the problems people face in their day-to-day lives."

MP for Ipswich, Tom Hunt, who remains a supporter of the PM, also highlighted poor government performances in past by-elections.

He said: "Given historical context, I don't think anybody could have reasonably expected the Conservatives to have held the Wakefield seat.

"The Tiverton result is disappointing and slightly worrying, but it's important to remember the public are not being asked to choose the next government.

"Given the low turnout of voters, I believe it is more to do with there being apathy towards the government, rather than there being any great enthusiasm for the alternatives.

"Some of this will be due to the cost of living, some of it will be because of partygate.

"At the moment, there won't be a constituency in the country an MP doesn't have a concern about.

"If the PM is able to get through this, he needs to focus on delivering on what matters most.

"That is his best hope of salvation."

The letter sent by Oliver Dowden to Boris Johnson following his resignation as chairman of the Conservative Party. (Image: PA Media)

James Cartlidge, MP for South Suffolk, said: “These are obviously very disappointing results for the party and there is no point in trying to pretend otherwise.

"However, it is also true that by-elections are very different to general elections.

"Ultimately, as a government, we will be judged by how we deliver for our constituents, and this has been an extremely challenging period to be in power, with a once-in-a-lifetime pandemic, followed almost immediately by war, with all the implications that both events have had for the economy and cost of living.

"So I remain of the view that we have to really focus on how we are making a positive difference to people’s lives."

Dr Dan Poulter, Central Suffolk and North Ipswich MP, said: "The by-elections were a bad result for the Prime Minister but the Liberal Democrats are in third or even fourth place in Suffolk and have often lost their deposits – getting less than 5% of the vote – in recent general elections.

"As always, the next election in Suffolk will be a straight fight between the Conservatives and Labour.

"However, the Tory party and the PM need to recognise that electors in Devon and Wakefield were using these by-elections to send a message to the government about the need to focus on the issues that matter to people – jobs, schools and hospitals and helping with the cost of living."

Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer meets with new Wakefield MP Simon Lightwood (right), as the party reclaimed the West Yorkshire seat from the Conservatives in the Wakefield by-election, which was triggered after Conservative MP Imran Ahmad Khan resigned earlier this year following his conviction for sexually assaulting a teenage boy. (Image: PA Wire/PA Images)

Waveney MP Peter Aldous, who is a critic of the prime minister, said: "These were very disappointing results. The views and concerns I have had over the past few months do remain. I do acknowledge that we had this vote three weeks ago and I accept the outcome.

"The result has posed questions to the leadership of the Conservative Party that they need to think on very carefully. They need to not just brush them away but respond to them.

"When you have real concerns about a direction of travel, you have to respond to that and not ignore them.

"What I think is it is incumbent on the leadership of the Conservative Party, to the government and the cabinet to reflect on this, liaise with the Prime Minister and respond accordingly. The ball is in their court."

On Oliver Dowden's resignation, Mr Aldous added: "I respect his decision. It is now necessary for the leadership of the party to reflect on what was said in his letter."

Jo Churchill did not respond to requests for comment.