Rishi Sunak responds to by-election results
Labour made a major error of judgement over Sadiq Khan's ULEZ expansion in the Uxbridge and South Ruislip by-election, according to ITV's Robert Peston.
The journalist said Sir Keir Starmer's party did not grasp how disenchantment with the Tories could be surpassed by the controversial issue.
Mr Peston said: "The party miscalculated, or rather put too little weight on how disillusionment with the Tories could be trumped by a specific issue of material, economic importance to voters.
"To put it another way, cash-strapped Uxbridge voters decided it was more important to use the by-election to protest against the Labour London mayor’s extension of the ULEZ - the capital’s charging zone for vehicles - than to signal disillusionment with an unpopular government.
"In Uxbridge, a single economic issue - during a cost-of-living crunch - trumped the more general national mood that it is time to get the Tories out."
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Tory Steve Tuckwell (r) beat Labour's Danny Beales (l) (Image: PA)
READ MORE: John Curtice warns Keir Starmer faces 'question mark' over by-election blow
The Conservatives managed to hang on to Boris Johnson's former seat by a narrow majority, despite Labour hoping to swipe it.
Mr Peston said the result in the west London constituency has key implications for the next general election.
He said the Labour leader is "still some way" from sparking excitement around his party that would overtake unpopular local issues such as ULEZ.
ITV's political editor said Sir Keir needs to give voters a "powerful reason" to back him rather than simply voting against the Conservatives.
Meanwhile, Mr Peston added that for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak it "reinforces his conviction" that victory is possible if he can persuade voters they will be financially better off with the Tories.
Rishi Sunak seized on the Tories' win in Uxbridge and South Ruislip (Image: PA)
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The Conservative leader was spared becoming the first prime minister since 1968 to lose three by-elections on the same day by holding on to the seat.
Labour blamed fury at the ￡12.50 daily charge on high-pollution vehicles being expanded in the capital by its own mayor Sadiq Khan for losing out by 495 votes.
The Tories lost the previously safe seats of Selby and Ainsty which went to Labour and Somerton and Frome to the Lib Dems.
Mr Sunak said: "By-elections, mid-terms for an incumbent Government are always difficult. They rarely win them.
It would be wrong to say that it was anything but a terrible night for Rishi Sunak and the Tories, with the massive swings against it in Selby and in Somerton. But the retention of Uxbridge shows how much work Keir Starmer still has to do to be confident of winning the general…
— Robert Peston (@Peston) July 21, 2023
It would be wrong to say that it was anything but a terrible night for Rishi Sunak and the Tories, with the massive swings against it in Selby and in Somerton. But the retention of Uxbridge shows how much work Keir Starmer still has to do to be confident of winning the general…
— Robert Peston (@Peston) July 21, 2023
It would be wrong to say that it was anything but a terrible night for Rishi Sunak and the Tories, with the massive swings against it in Selby and in Somerton. But the retention of Uxbridge shows how much work Keir Starmer still has to do to be confident of winning the general…
— Robert Peston (@Peston) July 21, 2023
"The message I take away is that we've got to double down, stick to our plan and deliver for people. That's what I heard when I was out on the doorsteps and that's what we're going to do.
"We're going to work incredibly hard to deliver on our five priorities and earn people's trust for the next election."
He argued holding on to the seat showed there was hope for the Tories at the general election expected next year.
Mr Sunak said: "Westminster's been acting like the next election is a done deal. The Labour Party has been acting like it's a done deal, the people of Uxbridge just told all of them that it's not.
"No one expected us to win here. But Steve's victory demonstrates that when confronted with the actual reality of the Labour Party, when there's an actual choice on a matter of substance at stake people vote Conservative."
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