6 months ago
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Image source, PA Media
Chris Webb achieved a huge swing of 26% for Labour against the Conservatives
By Paul Burnell & Ellis Palmer
BBC News, Blackpool
Labour has taken Blackpool South from the Conservatives as voters deserted the Tories in a resounding Westminster by-election victory.
Chris Webb secured a 26.3% swing in the marginal Lancashire seat, easily wiping out the Tories' 2019 general election majority of 3,690 to win by 7,607.
Conservative David Jones only narrowly beat Reform UK's Mark Butcher into second place.
The by-election was triggered by former Tory MP Scott Benton's resignation.
The Conservatives suspended Mr Benton last year after he told journalists from The Times, posing as gambling industry investors, that he could lobby ministers.
A subsequent investigation concluded Mr Benton had caused "significant damage" to Parliament's reputation and he announced his resignation as an MP in March.
Mr Webb becomes only the second Labour MP to represent Blackpool South after Gordon Marsden, who held from 1997 until the December 2019 general election.
The turnout was 32.5% - much lower than the 56.8% in 2019.
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