Boris gets a bloody nose in Bexley: Tory majority is slashed in by-election 

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Oliver Dowden has hailed the Conservative Party’s victory in the Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election but warned a reduced majority shows the Government must ‘focus and get on with delivery’. 

Boris Johnson and the Tories were given a bloody nose in the Conservative safe seat contest after their majority was slashed from 19,000 to less than 4,500.

Mr Dowden, the Tory chairman, insisted it was a ‘good result for a governing party mid-term’ as he slapped down Labour claims that its second placed finish showed it is on course to win power in 2024.  

Shadow solicitor general Ellie Reeves said the 10.3 per cent swing to Labour was ‘fantastic’ and ‘if replicated at a general election Labour would be within reach of forming a majority government’. 

But Mr Dowden said: ‘This idea that Labour have made some surge ahead is really for the birds.’  

The vote – which was called following the death of former cabinet minister James Brokenshire in October – took place amid a whirlwind of sleaze allegations against the Government.

Tory candidate Louie French took the seat with 11,189 votes, ahead of his Labour rival on 6,711, a majority of 4,478.

The Tories’ share of the vote at just over 51 per cent was down 13 per cent on the 2019 general election result.

Mr French praised Mr Brokenshire’s record in his acceptance speech, and said it had been ‘a tough contest, which has been fought with dignity and respect’. 

Mr French contested the seat alongside ten other candidates including Daniel Francis for Labour, Simone Reynolds for the Lib Dems, Jonathan Rooks for the Greens, and Richard Tice for the Reform Party, who came third with 1,432 votes.

Mr Tice, who is also the Reform Party leader, later tweeted:  ‘Huge thanks to voters in Old Bexley & Sidcup. A massive result for @reformparty-uk, coming 3rd with almost as many votes as the Lib Dems & Greens combined. Now only 5 parties to choose from in British politics and Reform UK is the only one on the upward march.’

The result is likely to raise further questions over Mr Johnson’s leadership after weeks of turmoil and growing backbench anger at his handling of sleaze claims and the Covid crisis.

Mr Dowden told Sky News this morning that he was ‘really not terribly worried about Labour’ after the Tory majority was slashed in the constituency. 

He said: ‘This is a good result for a governing party mid-term. As you well know, governing parties shouldn’t expect to do well mid-term. 

‘We actually secured over 50 per cent of the vote in Bexley. I pay tribute to our excellent candidate and the campaign team there that secured that result.

‘This idea that Labour have made some surge ahead is really for the birds. They’ve actually got about the same vote share as they secured under Jeremy Corbyn in 2017. Keir Starmer couldn’t even be bothered to turn up to the by-election, so I am really not terribly worried about Labour.’ 

Asked if he believed allegations of sleaze may have affected the Tories’ performance, Mr Dowden said: ‘Of course people have concerns mid-term with any government’s performance. And, of course, people have been concerned about what’s happened over the past couple of months.

‘I actually think it’s tribute, contrary to a lot of expectations, to the campaign that has been fought by Louie French, by the excellent team down there, that we secured 50 per cent of the vote.

‘Now, what I take from that is that the Government has to focus and get on with delivery.’

Ms Reeves, who helped run the Labour campaign in the by-election, tweeted: ‘A fantastic 10.3 per cent swing to Labour in the Conservative heartland of Old Bexley and Sidcup. 

‘If replicated at a general election Labour would be within reach of forming a majority government.’  

The shadow minister told the BBC after the result that Labour was ‘pleased’ with the ‘remarkable’ result.

‘This is a Conservative stronghold, somewhere that had a 19,000 majority at the last general election and what we’ve seen tonight is that majority being slashed,’ she said. 

‘There’s been a 10 per cent swing over to Labour this evening. We’ve been knocking on doors for weeks here and finding many, many Conservative voters that have said actually I’m not going to vote for them this time, I’m going to vote for Labour.

‘I think it’s clear that we’re winning back the trust of people and it’s a remarkable result for us in a Tory stronghold.’ 

The Tories put a brave face on the result after it was announced, pointing out Mr French secured more than half the votes cast. 

Conservative deputy chairman Justin Tomlinson said: ‘We’re absolutely thrilled. For a Government to get over 50 per cent of the vote in a parliamentary by-election is almost unheard of, and with a majority of over 20 per cent.

‘A fantastic local candidate, positive campaign, focused on the tangible difference we’re making to people’s lives, having navigated the unprecedented challenges of Covid.’

He added that the result was an ‘absolute disaster’ for the Labour Party, saying: ‘They do not look like a Government in waiting.’

In his victory speech, Mr French said: ‘I’m incredibly proud of the campaign my team and I have run based on local issues that matter to the people who live here.

‘And tonight, those people send a clear message: they want an MP who will work with the Government to deliver on their priorities.

‘My focus will now be delivering on those promises that I made during the campaign – get our fair share of London’s police officers, securing more investment for local schools and hospitals, protecting our precious green spaces.’

He promised voters he would ‘work tirelessly to repay the trust that you’ve placed in me and I will not let you down’. 

‘This is the greatest honour of my life. And I hope it inspires people to achieve their own dreams.’ 

The by-election was called following the death of Mr Brokenshire, 53, who died from lung cancer in October.   

He represented Old Bexley and Sidcup from 2010, having been initially elected as the MP for Hornchurch in 2005.