Conservative incumbent Andy Street suffered a shock defeat to the Labor Party in the West Midlands mayoral election after a partial recount was ordered.
Labor candidate Richard Parker defeated Mr Street by just 1,508 votes to deliver a huge blow Rishi Sunak in the main electoral battleground after a hammering in local elections.
With the race close, in the end it all came down to the results of one district – Sandwell, which supports the Labor Party.
“This is the most important thing I will ever do,” Parker said in his acceptance speech.
“I promise you that I will deliver jobs,” he added.
“We will fix our public transportation system. We will build the homes you need and give this region the fresh start it deserves.”
And he thanked his predecessor, who he said had “led this region through a series of major challenges and deserves great credit for that.”
Street wished his successor “all strength and wisdom.”
He added: “I’m sorry we didn’t get that treble or hat-trick but, mark my words, you’ll be back for that I’m sure.
“In the end, it wasn’t meant to be.”
Labor leader Sir Keir Starmer said it was a “phenomenal result” and “beyond our expectations”.
He added: “People across the country are fed up with the Tory chaos and decline and have voted for change with the Labor Party.
“My new Labor Party is back in the service of working people and is ready to govern.”
Local elections live
The results of the mayoral election
Congratulating Parker, Labor deputy national campaign coordinator Ellie Reeves posted on X: “An incredible result and a significant victory.
“Across the country people voted for change and the message is clear…
“It’s time for a general election and a Labor government to reclaim our country’s future.”
The result will again increase pressure on the prime minister, who was hoping for a repeat of the success achieved by conservative Ben Houchen, who remained mayor of Tees Valley.
See more information:
The winners and losers
Charts tell the story of the conservative collapse
Analysis: The Labor Party’s future success is less clear
Former Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson, on the Electoral Dysfunction podcast, said rebels who want to move against Sunak and change leader “would have a huge amount of fuel” if the party lost “one or the other or both Teeside and the West Midlands”. .
The loss in the West Midlands threatens to fuel leadership rumors among some Conservative MPs.
Seeking a third term, Street sought to distance himself from the conservative brand during his campaign and instead ran on a personal platform.
Sky News recently revealed that Mr Street was sending election literature with the former Prime Minister’s endorsement Boris Johnson who urged people to “forget the government”.
His campaign website also made no mention of Mr Sunak on its home page and was colored green rather than conservative blue.
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This story originally appeared on News.sky.com read the full story
