stinging setback for the Conservative government, which lost two out of three seats in by-elections

The Tories far from celebrating. Britain’s ruling Conservative party lost a majority to Labor on Friday (July 21st) in two of three by-elections seen as indicators for general elections due next year.

Rishi Sunak’s party lost its majority by 19,000 votes in the constituency of Somerton and Frome in south-west England and by 20,000 votes in the constituency of Selby and Ainsty in the north of the country. On the other hand, he won a narrow victory in the constituency of Uxbridge and Ruislip of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

These results are far from a good signal for the Tories, who narrowly kept the former seat of former Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had resigned with a bang from Parliament due to the aftermath of “partygate”, the holiday scandal in Downing Street during the pandemic. These by-elections have set the tone for the upcoming election period, both for the majority, at its lowest in the polls after thirteen years in power, and for Labour, well placed to enter Downing Street in 2024.