Breaking Labour’s Richard Parker claims shock over Andy Street victory in West Midlands mayoral election as Jubilant Keir Starmer hails ‘phenomenal result’ that was ‘beyond our expectations’ plunging Tories into fresh crisis EnglishHeadline

Labour has claimed a shock victory within the West Midlands mayoral elections, beating Tory Andy Avenue – in a transfer a jubilant Kier Starmer tonight hailed as a ‘phenomenal consequence’. 

Labour’s Richard Parker beat him by 1,508 votes to turn out to be Mayor in an especially shut contest.

It means Mr Avenue shall be denied his third time period, in a significant blow for Rishi Sunak after a disastrous native elections – who tonight admitted it had been a ‘disappointing’ consequence.

Talking after his loss, the previous John Lewis boss paid tribute to what he believes is necessary about his position.

He stated: ‘Most significantly my thanks in fact go to all people who voted for me on Thursday and for the belief that they confirmed in me. 

‘That is maybe crucial phrase in politics of all.’

He continued: ‘It has been my honour to steer you for the final seven years. I hope I’ve executed it with dignity and integrity.’

Speaking to Sky Information, he added that he was ‘extremely proud’ he had misplaced by such a skinny margin, regardless of being ‘personally devastated’ by the consequence.

He stated: ‘Provided that this has all the time been a spot the place some individuals stated it’s best to by no means have received within the first place, I am truly very, very pleased with what we have executed.

‘The factor everybody ought to take from Birmingham within the West Midlands tonight is that this model of reasonable, inclusive, tolerant conservatism that will get on and delivered has come inside an ace of beating the Labour Get together in, what they thought of to be their yard.’ 

Additional questioned whether or not he thought it was the Conservative marketing campaign that had been his downfall, he added: ‘It was my marketing campaign completely. I’m not going to attempt to push accountability anyplace else … they will be no sloping shoulders from me.’

A tearful Richard Parker began his victory speech by main applause to Andy Avenue, as stated he deserved ‘nice credit score’ for his work.

He stated: ‘Thanks to Andy – you could have led this area via quite a few nice challenges and also you deserve nice credit score for that. 

‘While our politics are totally different we each have the perfect pursuits of the West Midlands at coronary heart. ‘

He continued: ‘That is crucial factor that I’ll ever do

‘They recognised {that a} Labour mayor could make a optimistic distinction on this area. You could have put your belief in me and I’ll repay that belief.

‘We are going to give this area the contemporary begin it richly deserves. I’ll rise up for all our councils within the face of unprecedented Tory cuts.

‘It exhibits that individuals are calling for Labour and calling for change.’

He added that individuals ‘up and down the nation’ are calling for a common election.

He stated: ‘Up and down the nation individuals are searching for a contemporary begin; I hope the Prime Minister is watching as effectively, as a result of if you have not heard Rishi Sunak, our individuals are calling for a common election.

‘I’ll get this area’s future again, and a Labour mayor working with a Labour authorities will assist get Britain’s future again.’

In a written assertion following the victory, Sir Keir Starmer stated: ‘This phenomenal consequence was past our expectations. Individuals throughout the nation have had sufficient of Conservative chaos and decline and voted for change with Labour.

‘Our implausible new mayor Richard Parker stands able to ship a contemporary begin for the West Midlands.

‘My modified Labour Get together is again within the service of working individuals, and stands prepared to manipulate. Labour will flip the web page after 14 years of Tory decline and usher in a decade of nationwide renewal. That change begins right this moment.’

Talking in Birmingham, he accused Rishi Sunak of getting used Mr Avenue as a ‘crutch for [his] weak management’ – as he referred to as for the Prime Minister to name an election.

Labour received 37.8 per cent of the vote within the West Midlands mayoral election, with Andy Avenue following carefully behind with 37.5 per cent.

Unbiased candidate Akhmed Yakoob made 11.7 per cent of the vote, whereas Reform UK got here in fourth with 5.8 per cent and the Inexperienced get together bought 5.2 per cent. The Lib Dem candidate bought two per cent of the share.

Mr Avenue additional apologised to his Conservative staff after being defeated by Labour.

Saying thanks to his staff throughout the area, he added: ‘It has been my honour to steer you for the final seven years.

‘I am sorry, we could not make it that triple or hat-trick, however mark my phrases, you can be again for that.’

Mr Avenue thanked his fellow candidates, together with Mr Parker for ‘how he is carried out himself within the marketing campaign’ and wished him ‘all energy and knowledge as he takes on this position’.

Rishi Sunak admitted it was ‘disappointing’ that Andy Avenue misplaced, however insisted the nation was ‘turning a nook’ and that his get together’s plan ‘is working’.

In an announcement, the Prime Minister stated: ‘After a tricky few years within the aftermath of the pandemic and the warfare in Ukraine, we as a nation are turning a nook. 

‘Our plan is working with inflation greater than halved, tax cuts value a median of £900 hitting individuals’s pockets, state pensions protected with our triple lock, our Rwanda invoice signed into regulation, permitting us to start out detaining unlawful migrants prepared for the primary flights, authorized migration down and defence spending boosted. 

‘We Conservatives perceive the priorities of the British individuals and are delivering on them.

‘It has been disappointing in fact to lose devoted Conservative councillors and Andy Avenue within the West Midlands, together with his monitor report of offering nice public companies and attracting vital funding to the world, however that has redoubled my resolve to proceed to make progress on our plan. 

‘So we are going to proceed working as arduous as ever to take the combat to Labour and ship a brighter future for our nation. It’s as clear that Labour simply do not have a plan. They haven’t any plan to defend our nation, no plan to cease the boats and no plan to develop the financial system. They’re a tender contact and would take us again to sq. one.

‘So by sticking to the plan we are going to safe our borders, develop the financial system and create alternatives so everybody on this nice nation can thrive and prosper.’

The failure of the previous John Lewis boss to safe a 3rd time period is a big setback for the PM, and leaves him with virtually nothing to cling to from a nightmare set of native elections.

Rebels instantly warned that the ‘gamechanging’ defeat meant Mr Sunak might now face a contemporary bid to oust him – though different MPs reiterated their view it was too late.

The premier had been determined for Mr Avenue to affix Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen within the winner’s circle, demonstrating that the get together can nonetheless win massive contests.

Lord Houchen’s success had seemingly helped Mr Sunak quell a revolt. Nonetheless, the most recent defeat instantly infected anger, critics pointing to the relentlessly grim outcomes for the Conservatives. The get together is more likely to find yourself shedding practically 500 councillors in one of many worst showings for 40 years.

One Tory MP instructed MailOnline that Downing Avenue had quelled dissent thus far by ‘bullsh*****’ that ‘all’s going to be high-quality’ and suggesting Susan Corridor was going to win in London.

‘Regardless of all of the extremely optimistic personal spin from No10 to Tory MPs since Thursday, we have misplaced effectively over 400 council seats, Andy Avenue has misplaced, Susan Corridor has been defeated in London,’ they stated.

‘Ben Houchen received with out having the balls to put on a blue rosette, even at his personal victory rely… Rishi’s Sunak’s completely hapless Management is now positively in play.’

The MP added that they’d not despatched a letter of no confidence earlier than, however could be now – predicting that the edge of 52 for a vote could be hit.

Ex-Cupboard minister Simon Clarke, a public critic of Mr Sunak, reportedly posted on a Tory WhatsApp group after the information broke: ‘These outcomes are terrible, and must be a large get up name.’

A former minister instructed MailOnline that victory for Mr Avenue would have ‘eased the strain’ on the PM.

‘For individuals who say it could be insanity to have one other chief now simply have a look at the statistics. They are saying that’s exactly what nearly all of Tory voters need,’ they stated.

‘I feel there shall be extra reflection now. There shall be quite a lot of telephone calls being made this Financial institution Vacation weekend, not least by supporters of rival candidates, though they are going to be discreet.’

The MP added that there was ‘a component of MPs merely being resigned to shedding’.

However one other veteran Tory backbencher stated Mr Avenue’s loss ‘is just not going to shift something’.

‘Individuals know Rishi has improved issues, so let’s follow him and never let Kier take credit score for Tories bettering issues over subsequent six months,’ they added.

The MP stated the important thing query for the rebels was who could be higher than Mr Sunak: ‘Nobody they usually understand it.’

For the primary time since 1996, the Lib Dems have received extra councillors than the Conservatives at a spherical of native elections.

Mr Parker gave the impression to be all smiles with get together members and supporters earlier than the declaration in Birmingham, the place the consequence was set to be formally introduced. 

He posed for images whereas smiling with supporters near the rostrum the place the winner shall be introduced, however then declined to smile when requested to pose for the media, saying he was ‘nervously ready’ for the consequence.

Former West Midlands mayoral candidate and MP for Birmingham’s Hodge Hill, Liam Byrne, posted an image on social media of himself and Mr Parker smiling with their arms raised in an obvious celebration.

Senior Labour sources prompt that there are as little as 1,000 votes within the victory within the run as much as the declaration, the BBC reported.

And Labour’s deputy nationwide marketing campaign co-ordinator and Lewisham MP Ellie Reeves posted on X: ‘Congratulations @RichParkerLab. An unbelievable consequence and vital victory.

‘Proper throughout the nation individuals have voted for change and the message is evident… It is time for a Normal Election and a Labour govt to get our nation’s future again.’

Either side warned the race was ‘too near name’, with the consequence – initially due round 3pm – lastly anticipated to return this night. 

Partial recounts had been already taking place in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, however Coventry was re-tallied in full because the events wrangled over each single vote. 

Mr Sunak hoped Mr Avenue would be a part of Tees Valley mayor Ben Houchen in securing a 3rd time period, demonstrating that the get together can nonetheless win massive contests.

Lord Houchen’s success seemingly helped Mr Sunak quell a contemporary coup bid from rebels, most of whom who’ve now conceded the chief is not going to change earlier than the overall election. 

However it’s feared one other defeat might infame anger, with the broader image for the Conservatives having been relentlessly grim. It’s more likely to find yourself shedding 500 councillors in one of many worst showings for 40 years. 

For the primary time since 1996, the Lib Dems have received extra councillors than the Conservatives at a spherical of native elections. 

Talking concerning the West Midlands consequence, political scientist Sir John Curtice instructed the BBC: ‘It’s a testomony to Andy Avenue’s private reputation that albeit he might have misplaced narrowly – the truth that he has run Labour so shut I feel he can take fairly some appreciable credit score for.

‘As a result of we all know that within the parallel Police and Commissioner election the Conservatives had been fairly a way behind.’

Labour candidate Simon Foster received the vote to turn out to be West Midlands Police and Crime Commissioner forward of the declaration for West Midlands Mayor earlier right this moment.

He received by practically 100,000 votes forward of his Conservative rival. saying: ‘The one honour and privilege better than being elected by our fellow residents is to be re-elected by your fellow residents.’

Birmingham Labour MP Jess Phillips stated that her get together’s delay in calling for a Gaza ceasefire price them votes within the West Midlands, earlier than the consequence was declared.

It comes after Unbiased candidate Akhmed Yakoob received third place within the Birmingham consequence after campaigning on Palestine.

A former frontbencher, Phillips broke ranks and give up to vote in favour of an SNP-led demand for an ‘rapid ceasefire’ within the Center East final November.

‘I might be mendacity if I stated if I stated this hasn’t been a difficulty that harm the Labour get together on this election,’ she instructed the BBC.

‘It is a political difficulty that the individuals right here care about.’

The Blackpool South by-election precipitated explicit consternation as Labour stormed the seat with a 26 level swing – and the Tories solely barely scraped into second forward of Reform.

And Sadiq Khan comfortably sailed to victory in opposition to Conservative candidate Susan Corridor – securing a historic third time period as London Mayor.

He celebrated his ‘elevated margin of victory’ on the earlier election after he obtained 1,088,225 votes, a majority of practically 276,000 over Ms Corridor, who secured 812,397 votes.

And he slammed the ‘continuous negativity’ of the campaigning in opposition to him after a divisive race. He used his victory speech to apologise to his household for the ‘threats’ they’d obtained and ‘protests by our dwelling’.

However it was not all plain crusing for Sir Keir although, with specialists warning {that a} stoop in assist in areas with giant Muslim populations prompt he was ‘in bother’. 

Labour tied up extra anticipated victories right this moment, with Steve Rotheram re-elected as Liverpool Metropolis Area Mayor after securing a landslide 68 per cent of the vote.

Andy Burnham emerged victorious in Larger Manchester by 63 per cent to simply 10 per cent for his Tory opponent.  

Oliver Coppard was returned as as South Yorkshire Mayor with 138,611 votes, practically 3 times as many because the 44,945 his Conservative rival Nick Allen obtained. 

Earlier, Mr Sunak insisted he can nonetheless flip the scenario round, saying individuals are ‘annoyed and questioning why they need to vote’. 

‘The actual fact Labour is just not profitable in locations that they admit themselves they want for a majority, exhibits that Keir Starmer‘s lack of plan and imaginative and prescient is hurting them,’ he stated.

‘We Conservatives have every thing to combat for – and we are going to as a result of we’re preventing for our values and our nation’s future.’

Mr Sunak pointed to his get together’s current dedication to hike defence spending and reduce migration as clear dividing traces with Labour.

However polling guru Prof John Curtice stated the outcomes demonstrated Mr Sunak has ‘little or no to indicate’ for his efforts to revive the Tories’ fortunes after Liz Truss’s abrtive premiership.

The election professional instructed the BBC: ‘There’s nothing in these outcomes to counsel opposite to the opinion polls that the Conservatives are literally starting to slim the hole on Labour, and that thus far not less than, Rishi Sunak’s venture which has tried to get better from the catastrophe – from the Conservatives’ perspective – of the Liz Truss fiscal occasion, that venture has nonetheless bought little or no to indicate for it.

‘That in a way is the large takeaway.

‘Now the Conservatives, as when all events do badly in elections, they all the time need you to give attention to the exception somewhat than the rule, and Tees Valley and possibly the West Midlands are the exceptions not the rule.’

On Labour losses over its stance on Gaza, Sir John stated: ‘In the mean time I feel what we’d discover if we had a common election is that Labour may effectively fall again in a few of these seats, however as a result of the Labour Get together is already so robust, they might most likely nonetheless reach profitable the parliamentary election.

‘However yep, this can be a massive message to Labour from these native elections, is that you’re certainly now in bother with a few of your Muslim former supporters.’

Mr Sunak suffered a blow in his personal again yard as Labour took the York and North Yorkshire mayor submit.

The area, which covers the PM’s Richmond constituency, is someplace Labour has traditionally struggled to compete in parliamentary elections.

Labour additionally received inaugural mayoral contests within the East Midlands and the North East, and gained 9 police and crime commissioner posts from the Tories, together with in Cumbria, Avon and Somerset, and Norfolk.

However in a smattering of councils, the Opposition get together misplaced seats to independents and George Galloway’s Employees Get together of Britain, all apparently over the get together’s stance on Gaza.

Total, Labour received management of eight councils because it noticed a internet acquire of 204 seats, whereas the Liberal Democrats gained 92 seats and the Greens 58.

The Liberal Democrats’ most vital victory was profitable management of Dorset council from the Conservatives, the place it now has 42 of the 82 seats after gaining 15.

The Greens fell narrowly wanting taking general management of Bristol, one in all their high targets, regardless of gaining 10 seats.

Regardless of outcomes that left the Conservatives on monitor to lose half the seats they contested, rebels admitted they’d not persuaded sufficient MPs to affix them to power a vote of no confidence in Mr Sunak’s management.

One insurgent instructed the Mail merely: ‘We’re off to the pub.’

Dame Andrea Jenkyns, the primary Tory MP to publicly transfer in opposition to the PM, stated it was ‘unlikely’ that others would comply with in ample numbers to set off a management contest.

‘My stance is similar,’ she stated. ‘However we’re the place we’re and it’s trying unlikely that the MPs are going to place the letters in, so we have to pull collectively.’

Former Cupboard minister Nadine Dorries – one other high-profile critic of the PM – stated it could be ‘insanity’ to attempt to substitute Mr Sunak earlier than the overall election, including that it could ‘make no distinction’ to the consequence.

One insurgent supply stated it was clear that Mr Sunak would ‘limp on to the election’, including: ‘We’re not kamikaze pilots. In the long run, there are too many MPs with their heads caught within the sand for it to work.’