Labour loose the deep blue Hartlepool by-election

In the UK by-elections today, Boris Johnsons Conservative government has secured a small but critical victory in the seat of Hartlepool which has been a staunch Labour seat since 1974. Whilst this is just one of the by-elections in the UK today, the loss of such an ardent Labour seat is a worrying harbinger of further losses for the Labour government across the country. With many working class parts of the country continuing to side with Johnsons Conservatives it would appear the Labour movement has a mountain to climb if its to get back into competition with the Conservative party. More to follow ….