4:18
This heavy defeat in Blackpool South is the latest in a sorry sequence of defeats for the Tories in recent parliamentary by-elections.
The party has lost six other seats since Rishi Sunak became prime minister, with all of the defeats coming in the last 10 months.
Kingswood – 15 Feb 2024 – Labour gain – swing of 16.4%
Wellingborough – 15 Feb 2024 – Labour gain – swing of 28.5%
Tamworth – 19 Oct 2023 – Labour gain – swing of 23.9%
Mid Bedfordshire – 19 Oct 2023 – Labour gain – swing of 20.5%
Somerton and Frome – 20 July 2023 – Lib Dem gain – swing of 29%
Selby and Ainsty – 20 July 2023 – Labour gain – swing of 23.7%
The Conservatives did also hold one seat in that time – Uxbridge and South Ruislip on 20 July 2023, a by-election triggered when former prime minister Boris Johnson stepped down as an MP.