UK Conservative Party Achieves Landslide Victory in Labour Party Stronghold After 57 Years

Boris Johnson, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom [Photo by Yonhap News]

[Asia Economy Reporter Bu Aeri] In the by-election for the parliamentary seat in the northern England region of Huddersfield, Conservative Party candidate Jill Mortimer was elected.

According to BBC and others on the 7th, Mortimer's vote share was 51.9%, double that of the Labour Party candidate (28.7%).

Local media reported that it is the first time in 57 years that the Conservative Party has regained this area. It is the first time since it became an independent constituency in 1974.

Local media viewed the election result as a boost for Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who had been in trouble recently due to controversies over official residence interior expenses. Johnson had visited the area three times during the election campaign, showing his commitment.

Mortimer described it as a "historic result" and said, "The Labour Party has taken the support of local residents for granted for too long."

There are growing analyses that the election result cannot be interpreted solely as an achievement of the UK government's COVID-19 vaccine policy.

BBC interpreted it as showing that the Labour Party has yet to win back the hearts of working-class voters who supported Brexit.