The Conservatives have misplaced the Somerton and Frome by-election to the Liberal Democrats.
The Lib Dem victory comes roughly a 12 months after an analogous outcome within the close by Tiverton and Honiton by-election.
David Warburton stood down because the constituency’s MP final month, however shortly after it was discovered that an investigation into claims he sexually harassed somebody was “materially flawed“.
However the MP – who had been suspended from the Conservative Party in parliament – did admit to drug use.
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His seat has now been taken over by the Lib Dems‘ Sarah Dyke with a majority of 11,008. The Tory candidate was Faye Purbrick.
Ms Dyke obtained 21,187 votes, whereas the Conservatives took 10,179, the Greens 3,944, Reform 1,303 and Labour 1,009.
This equates to a 29 level swing to the Liberal Democrats, and the Conservatives have by no means had a decrease share of the vote within the seat.
Unlike Tiverton and Honiton, the Lib Dems have held Somerton and Frome in current reminiscence.
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Speaking after her win, Ms Dyke stated: “Tonight has been a stunning and historic victory for the Liberal Democrats, and it shows once and for all, the Liberal Democrats are back in the West Country.
“Lifelong conservative voters have immediately voted Liberal Democrat for the primary time. Thank you for placing your belief in me to ship for you. I can’t allow you to down.”
Mr Warburton solely received the seat for the Conservatives in 2015 off coalition minister David Heath, who had held it for 18 years beforehand.
But this election nonetheless required a sizeable shift in opinion from 2019, because the Conservatives had been sitting on a majority of greater than 19,000.
The seat is essentially older than common and has been much less uncovered to rate of interest rises resulting from a decrease variety of mortgage-holders, with 43% of properties being owned with out a mortgage. But the momentum had been swinging away from the Tories within the area.
David Warburton stood down as an MP
The 2022 council elections noticed sizeable falls within the Conservative wards within the area, with the Lib Dems claiming first place in 10 of 13 seats and taking 40% of the vote.
The Tories received only one ward; the opposite two have been taken by the Greens.
Content Source: information.sky.com