Peterborough by-election result

Labour held Peterborough despite their previous candidate being sent to prison, their current one running into an anti-Semitism problem, and only getting 31% of the vote.

The results were as follows:





After the Peterborough by-election, Nigel Farage claimed that the best way to stop Jeremy Corbyn becoming PM is to vote for the Brexit party.

From my perspective as a resident of the North West there is a rather serious problem with that argument.

Essentially Mr Farage is suggesting that people who don't want to see a hard left politician who invited the IRA to parliament after the Brighton bomb become PM should vote instead for the party which has just elected in the North West an MEP who used to be a leading light in the Revolutionary Communist Party and who failed to adequately distance herself from that party's past support for the IRA, including the Warrington Bomb.

Sorry Nige, really doesn't work for me.

It was one thing for the Brexit party to put forward for the European elections a single issue slate in support of Brexit, comprising a range of candidates who have totally different and incompatible views on every subject other than Brexit. 

But for a Westminster election voters are entitled to - and will - vote on a whole range of other issues.

Far from "Vote Brexit to stop Corbyn" being a credible slogan, the result in Peterborough was that Labour won with 31% of the vote because the non-Labour vote was split.

The Peterborough election has set a number of precedents
  • The first election called under the recall procedure after an MP was convicted of a serious offence and sentenced to a prison term
  • The first instance of the winner of a by-election facing calls MPs from her own party that she should be suspended before she has even taken her seat.

Labour MP Dame Louise Ellman said: “She should be suspended while Labour conducts an investigation.” 

Jess Phillips MP said on Friday morning:

“The reality is I cannot be gleeful or proud as I'd want to be because of how it shows that antisemitism is becoming normal in the party. 

“Lisa ignored and endorsed anti-Semitic things, I'll take her explanation and apology at face value and look forward to her proving as others have that actions not excuses alone can heal. 

“But with every case the parties values chip away and our ability to stand up against hate erodes.”

Wes Streeting MP  said:

“I’ve given up any hope that the Labour leadership is serious about tackling anti-Semitism.” 

He added: "I was shocked by what I read of her social media activity - it was serious enough to warrant disciplinary action. 

“She will need to work hard to persuade the Jewish Labour Movement and wider community that her apology was meaningful and that she is genuinely committed to tackling anti-Semitism.” 

The Conservative candidate, Paul Bristow, ran a local, positive campaign that we can be proud of. He focused on issues that really matter to local people, and he, and all of the volunteers who have turned up to help, can be proud of their efforts.

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