Ed Davey on Tiverton and Honiton: Wake-up call for Conservative MPs propping up Boris Johnson

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey has said the party's stunning victory in Tiverton and Honiton should be a "wake-up call" for Conservative MPs propping up Boris Johnson.

Liberal Democrat candidate Richard Foord overturned a Conservative majority of over 24,000, the biggest ever majority overturned in a by-election. Richard Foord gained a majority of 6,144 with a massive swing of 29.9%.

It marks the third Liberal Democrat by-election victory in a formerly safe Conservative seat in just over a year, following the party's shock wins in North Shropshire and Chesham and Amersham.

Liberal Democrat Leader Ed Davey said:

"The Liberal Democrats have made political history with this stunning win. It is the biggest by-election victory our country has ever seen.

"This should be a wake-up call for all those Conservative MPs propping up Boris Johnson. They cannot afford to ignore this result.

"The people of Tiverton and Honiton have spoken for the country. The public is sick of Boris Johnson's lies and law-breaking and it's time for Conservative MPs to finally do the right thing and sack him."

Liberal Democrat spokesperson for South West Wiltshire, Ellen Nicholson said:

"The result in Tiverton and Honiton shows there is no safe seat left for the Conservatives. Inaction on the cost of living crisis, law breaking at the heart of government and disregard for voter has finally come back to bite Boris Johnson. If Conservative MPs don't hear this message then the response from the ballot at the next general election will be deafening."

Notes

The Conservatives won a majority of 24,239 in Tiverton and Honiton in 2019, making it one of the safest Conservative seats in the country. Today's result is therefore the biggest majority ever overturned in a by-election, overtaking the 23,972 majority overturned in Liverpool Wavertree in 1935.

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