Summary

  • Labour has overturned huge Conservative majorities to win Thursday's two by-elections in Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth

  • "It's history in the making," hails party leader Sir Keir Starmer, saying the results were extraordinary but he won't get carried away

  • Tories have blamed it on low turnout and their voters staying at home - with Education Secretary Gillian Keegan saying there's "no real love for Labour" on the doorstep

  • Labour emerged victorious in Mid Beds - Nadine Dorries' former seat - which the Tories have held for more than 90 years and had a majority of more than 24,000

  • The result shows “nowhere is off limits", said new MP Alistair Strathern, a former maths teacher

  • The Conservatives were also defeated in Tamworth, where Labour's Sarah Edwards overturned a majority of more than 19,000

Live Reporting

Edited by Francesca Gillett and Chas Geiger

  1. Why are these by-elections happening?

    In Tamworth, Staffordshire

    The former Conservative deputy whip Chris Pincher triggered the by-election when he resigned after losing an appeal against a proposed Commons suspension for drunkenly groping two men.

    He was elected to the seat with a majority of more than 19,000 in 2019.

    In Mid Bedfordshire

    Conservative former cabinet minister Nadine Dorries quit after failing to be granted a peerage in Boris Johnson's resignation honours.

    She said she would quit “with immediate effect” on 9 June but didn’t actually resign until the end of August.

  2. Keys, wallet, phone - ID!

    There's just over half an hour to go until polls close at 22:00.

    If you’re still planning to go to the polling station this evening, photo ID is now needed in order to vote, following a change in the rules earlier this year.

    The most common accepted documents are your passport or driving licence, but there are plenty of other options, including a voter authority certificate if you applied in time.

    The changes will apply to the next general election too, so even if you're not in one of the two constituencies voting today, it’s worth thinking about whether you've got the right ID.

  3. By the way, what’s a by-election?

    A by-election is the process for electing a new member of Parliament when a seat in the House of Commons becomes vacant outside a general election.

    This can happen, for example, when an MP dies or resigns, or is convicted of a serious criminal offence.

    In today’s elections, both seats are being contested because the sitting MP resigned.

    A by-election does not have to take place if an MP changes political party.

    During the period before the vote while the seat is empty, an MP of the same party in a neighbouring constituency manages constituency matters.

  4. Less than an hour left to vote in two key by-elections

    Thomas Mackintosh
    Live reporter

    Good evening and welcome along to our double by-election coverage.

    Polls have been open since 07:00 in two by-elections called to choose new MPs in the English seats of Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth, Staffordshire.

    The UK has strict rules on what broadcasters can report about elections while polls are open.

    Those rules lift when polls close at 22:00 - at which point we’ll have plenty of analysis, voices, and the latest lines as the night develops.

    And if you’re one of those heading out to vote in the final hour - don’t forget you need to take ID with you.