Liberal Democrats win Tiverton and Honiton by-election to take Tory seat

The Liberal Democrats have overturned a 24,000 Tory majority to win the Tiverton and Honiton by-election.

A dramatic swing of almost 30% from the Tories to the Liberal Democrats saw Richard Foord achieve a majority of 6,144 in the Devon constituency on Thursday.

The new Lib Dem MP used his acceptance speech to call for Prime Minister Boris Johnson "to go, and go now", claiming his victory had "sent a shockwave through British politics".

He told Sky News: "I'm humbled and I'm feeling a huge sense of humility at the trust that the people of Tiverton and Honiton have placed in me.

Politics Hub: Reaction to Boris Johnson's humiliating triple by-election blow

"I think there has been very positive feedback throughout our very optimistic campaign... but there is no mistaking that Boris Johnson was a theme that came up on every doorstep almost.

"I think there's a real feeling now that he has overstayed his welcome as prime minister."

Analysis:
By-election losses will seep like poison slowly into the Tory bloodstream
Tories suffer some of the worst by-election defeats since 1945

The ballot was triggered when former Conservative MP Neil Parish resigned, having admitted to watching pornography on his mobile in parliament twice.

Follow the Daily podcast on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, Spotify, Spreaker

It is the third seat the Lib Dems have taken from the Tories in by-elections over the past year, after winning in North Shropshire and in Chesham and Amersham.

The Tories suffered another major defeat on Thursday, with Labour's Simon Lightwood taking the West Yorkshire seat of Wakefield with a majority of almost 5,000 votes.