Starmer celebrates ‘historic’ Selby victory in ‘biggest majority turned over in history of the Labour Party’
21 July 2023, 05:38 | Updated: 21 July 2023, 12:40
Sir Keir Starmer has hailed a "historic" result in the Tory stronghold of Selby and Ainsty after Labour overturned its biggest-ever majority of 20,137 at a by-election.
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Keir Mather won the North Yorkshire seat as support for the Conservatives there crumbled.
He also became the youngest MP in Parliament at 25 years old on a night of three by-elections.
"This is a historic result that shows that people are looking at Labour and seeing a changed party that is focused entirely on the priorities of working people with an ambitious, practical plan to deliver," Sir Keir said.
"Keir Mather will be a fantastic MP who will deliver the fresh start Selby and Ainsty deserves.
"It is clear just how powerful the demand for change is. Voters put their trust in us - many for the first time.
"After 13 years of Tory chaos, only Labour can give the country its hope, its optimism and its future back."
He won it with a majority of 4,161, overturning the Conservatives' 20,137 majority in the 2019 election.
Addressing Selby on Friday afternoon, Keir Starmer, Keir Mather and Angela Rayner took the stand to celebrate the victory.
Keir Starmer said: "Today is the day of firsts, I’m the first leader to say Labour Selby and Ainsty - how about that?
“It’s the first time we’ve won here, the first time we’ve overturned a 20,000 majority. The biggest majority we’ve ever turned over in the history of the Labour Party.”
Starmer hails 'historic' Selby win as Labour overhauls biggest by-election majority in its history
That is Labour's biggest overhaul of a majority in a by-election in its history.
Mather beat Claire Holmes, the Conservative candidate, who had hoped to retain the seat for her party after Tory MP Nigel Adams quit.
The Boris Johnson supporter resigned after he was denied a peerage.
Mather said of his win in a Tory stronghold, which had voted blue since the seat was created in 2010: "I want to begin my time as your MP by being very clear: I understand the enormity of what has just happened, I know what an honour this is, and I am humbled by this opportunity to serve.
"We have re-written the rules on where Labour can win. Thousands of the votes cast yesterday were in Labour's box for the very first time. For those of you who have put your faith in our party: thank you."
The blow to Rishi Sunak was softened by the Tories just managing to hold on to Boris Johnson's former seat of Uxbridge.
Steve Tuckwell won by 495 votes in what the Conservatives turned into a referendum on the controversial Ulez charge in London.
The Liberal Democrats also managed to win Somerton and Frome with Sarah Dyke.
Liberal Democrat Leader Sir Ed Davey said the "stunning victory" for his party showed that it was "firmly back" in the West Country.
