London, Dec 17 (UNI) The Conservatives have lost the North Shropshire seat they held for nearly 200 years to the Liberal Democrats in a by-election blow to Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
Winner Helen Morgan overturned a Tory majority of almost 23,000, declaring that the “party is over” for the Prime Minister.
The result follows a torrid week for Johnson, who has faced criticism over Downing Street parties and a rebellion by his own MPs over Covid-19 measures, BBC reported.
Tory MP Sir Roger Gale said the Prime Minister was on “last orders”. He said the by-election “has to be seen as a referendum on the Prime Minister’s performance”.
Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden said: “I know that the voters of North Shropshire are fed up and they wanted to give us a kicking… We’ve heard that message loud and clear.”
The by-election followed the resignation of Owen Paterson, the MP for North Shropshire since 1997 who was found to have breached parliamentary rules on lobbying.
In her victory speech, Morgan said: “The people of North Shropshire have spoken on behalf of the British people. They have said loudly and clearly, ‘Boris Johnson, the party is over.’
“Your government, run on lies and bluster, will be held accountable. It will be scrutinised, it will be challenged and it can and will be defeated.”
UNI MR ING
