to see course by elections tend to see lower numbers of people voting in general elections that stand in general elections that stand in general elections that stand in general elections. the turnout at that time was over 70%. this is the scene live in kettering leisure village, where we will hear the wellingborough result we've also heard the turn out there, 38%. that is actually slightly higher than many party officials were expecting — the last turnout at the general election in the constituency was 64%, but as i've been saying, come for turn out to be lower in by—elections. this is a big test for the parties and would of course is expected to be a general election year. the conservatives hold the seats, labour are the main challengers. labourare the main challengers. no voters in kingswood, in south gloucestershire, on the edge of the city of bristol, have been to the polls following the

resignation of x mp chris skidmore. the former minister stood down last month after the government's energy plans. the other by—election is in wellingborough, called following a recall petition and the northamptonshire constituency. that was prompted by former tory mp peter bone�*s suspension from the house of commons for six weeks for breaching the mps code of conduct. we could describe expectation management from both the conservatives and labour party who issued statements after the polls had closed. the tory one said... whilst the labour statement said...

lets go live to kettering, which is where the wellingborough result will be declared. our political correspondent harry farley is there. got the coffee on the 90, there. got the coffee on the go, what's the mood there as to when we might get a result? fix, when we might get a result? degree of expectation management from labour. but in recent by—elections, we've seen labour overturned majorities bigger than that. when i last spoke to you, i mentioned reform uk, the party that used to be known as the brexit party. this party voted very strongly to leave the eu back in 2016, round 60% of the voters here back to brexit. with me here is the leader of reform uk. still a with me here is the leader of reform uk. stilla number of hours before the results, are

you a confident man? we are delighted, early indications are that in both wellingborough and kingswood, we will get our best ever by election results by a considerable margin, a huge amount of work going on counting behind us, but that's our early indications, we think they will be at or around the national polling levels, , and we've made great progress. we are now solidifying ourselves as the third largest political party, way ahead of the lib dems who seem to be disappearing away. and we are making really good progress, it's quite clear the voters have rejected the incumbent conservative party here because frankly they've broken britain. we had news this morning that we are in recession — i gave a press conference on the 3rd of january saying you cannot grow an economy with record high government spending, nanny state regulations, because they haven't taken advantage of the great brexit opportunity, mass immigration, and finally the

multitrillion dollar cost of net zero. i'm sad to say already been proven right, and my concern is that labour think they can just go on a willy—nilly spending spree, and the risk is with no growth, though bankrupt britain stop what you've mentioned a string of your policies there, but is it more of your policies there, but is it mor u, , of your policies there, but is it mor u, , ., of your policies there, but is it mor , . ., , it more the case that voters are turning _ it more the case that voters are turning to _ it more the case that voters are turning to you _ it more the case that voters are turning to you as - it more the case that voters are turning to you as a - it more the case that voters i are turning to you as a protest vote, ratherthan are turning to you as a protest vote, rather than for anything you actually stand for? absolutely the opposite, they come to us as they hear about it. three years ago, we were at 1% it. three years ago, we were at i% and nobody heard about us, so it takes time to build a brand. but people are saying that actually, you've got the courage to tell as it is, and come up with some radical bold alternative proposals to save britain. because we are in a recession at 0.3% in the last quarter per head, it's worse for that there up the whole of 2023. this is serious stuff, people are feeling significantly poorer as a result of this conservative

government's policies. the conservatives _ government's policies. the conservatives say - government's policies. the conservatives say a - government's policies. the conservatives say a vote to reform is a vote to put keir starmer in number ten. if the conservatives do lose, that may well be because of conservative voters turning to you instead? a vote for you is actually a vote for the labour party? the tory party _ vote for the labour party? the tory party is — vote for the labour party? tue tory party is terrified vote for the labour party? tte tory party is terrified of vote for the labour party? ttj: tory party is terrified of us because we have the policies that make sense and will save britain, and they realise they've had their opportunity, they've had their opportunity, they've blown it, they've messed up the economy, they've allowed massive immigration, obsessed with net zero, the labour party is the same, so people are voting positively, saying, "thank have been someone has arrived on the scene with good policies that will save britain." that's why people are voting for us. would be a good _ people are voting for us. would be a good result _ people are voting for us. would be a good result for— people are voting for us. would be a good result for you - people are voting for us. would be a good result for you here i be a good result for you here tonight? tt be a good result for you here toniaht? ., be a good result for you here toniaht? . ., ., ., ., tonight? if we are at or around our national _ tonight? if we are at or around our national polling _ tonight? if we are at or around our national polling average, l our national polling average, we will be delighted, that'll be the first time — we've been criticised in the past by

members of the media, for that'll all change i think this evening, and people will realise we've arrived. absolutely we will be pulling in both these by—elections at the third—largest and we are delighted. the third-largest and we are delighted-— the third-largest and we are deliahted. ., , ., delighted. you said before you will stand in _ delighted. you said before you will stand in every _ delighted. you said before you will stand in every seat - delighted. you said before you will stand in every seat and - will stand in every seat and challenge the conservatives, are you ready to reiterate that promise? are you ready to reiterate that romise? :: , ., ., ., promise? 630 seat, the whole of encland, promise? 630 seat, the whole of england, scotland _ promise? 630 seat, the whole of england, scotland and _ promise? 630 seat, the whole of england, scotland and wales, i promise? 630 seat, the whole of| england, scotland and wales, we want the people of england to have their choice of policies that will save britain. brute have their choice of policies that will save britain. we said before that — that will save britain. we said before that reform _ that will save britain. we said before that reform uk - that will save britain. we said i before that reform uk might be the story of the night here in wellingborough, if you hours still to go here, so we will find out whether that will materialise later on this evening. harry, i've got another camera with you, and if we can go to that camera, we can show you the monster raving

loony party candidate. i understand there is quite a big cheer when he arrived at the count? tt cheer when he arrived at the count? , , ., , cheer when he arrived at the count? , , .,, , cheer when he arrived at the count? , , , count? if yes, i was stood back from the _ count? if yes, i was stood back from the balcony _ count? if yes, i was stood back from the balcony that - count? if yes, i was stood back from the balcony that we've . count? if yes, i was stood back| from the balcony that we've got looking over the count here, and suddenly there was a cheer and suddenly there was a cheer and burst of applause, and i rushed over to see what was going on, whether we had any indication of what the outcome might be tonight, and it was just the arrival of nick the brick, who is the monster raving loony candidate here tonight. so a moment of humour here earlier a few minutes ago. thank you, harry, it wouldn't be a british by—election without eight monster raving loony norma candidate. the other by—election is in 0ther by—election is in kingswood, our correspondent hannah miller is there. do we have any idea when we will get the result? abs, have any idea when we will get the result?— the result? a result is very eminent— the result? a result is very eminent here _ the result? a result is very

eminent here in _ the result? a result is very| eminent here in kingswood the result? a result is very - eminent here in kingswood now. this stage is being set, the candidates have already been called forward to get the provisional result. in fact, some of the candidates are not actually here yet, so we'll be waiting for that to happen. but one man who is here is that labour mp chris bryant. thanks forjoining us. it's looking quite positive for labour, how confident are you? t’m quite positive for labour, how confident are you?— confident are you? i'm very optimistic. _ confident are you? i'm very optimistic, i'm _ confident are you? i'm very optimistic, i'm always - confident are you? i'm very optimistic, i'm always very| optimistic, i'm always very superstitious about saying anything before the final result_ anything before the final result is actually end. but what _ result is actually end. but what i _ result is actually end. but what i know from having knocked on lots _ what i know from having knocked on lots of— what i know from having knocked on lots of doors, including in the horrible rain today and earlier— the horrible rain today and earlier on this week, is there are an — earlier on this week, is there are an awful lot of people in kingswood who knew that there was a _ kingswood who knew that there was a recession happening in this country because they've noted — this country because they've noted in _ this country because they've noted in their own pockets. it's noted in their own pockets. it's the _ noted in their own pockets. it's the cost—of—living crisis that— it's the cost—of—living crisis that many people have raised with— that many people have raised with us, — that many people have raised with us, as well as the fact that— with us, as well as the fact that you _ with us, as well as the fact that you can't get an appointment with a doctor and there's— appointment with a doctor and there's no nhs dentists locally. but they knew before

we were _ locally. but they knew before we were told this morning about richie's— we were told this morning about richie's recession that this country— richie's recession that this country is poorer than it was when — country is poorer than it was when rishi sunak became prime minister. — when rishi sunak became prime minister, and people are poor, lowest — minister, and people are poor, lowest living standards since this country began. i know because _ this country began. i know because i've spoken to dozens and dozens of people that they are people who voted conservatives all their lives who — conservatives all their lives who have voted labour today — direct — who have voted labour today — direct switches from conservative to labour. i take nothing — conservative to labour. i take nothing for granted but if we've _ nothing for granted but if we've won here tonight, it's the first_ we've won here tonight, it's the first domino that topples, and i— the first domino that topples, and i hope there'll be many more — and i hope there'll be many more to— and i hope there'll be many more to topple later on this yeah — more to topple later on this yeah we _ more to topple later on this year. we will only do that if we do — year. we will only do that if we do all_ year. we will only do that if we do all the work, this is because _ we do all the work, this is because of work. i'd like to think— because of work. i'd like to think every single person who's gone _ think every single person who's gone out — think every single person who's gone out and got sopping wet today— gone out and got sopping wet today either for voting for us or knocking people up and making _ or knocking people up and making sure they come out to vote — making sure they come out to vote. ., , ., ., , ., vote. the conservative party of course say _ vote. the conservative party of course say that _ vote. the conservative party of course say that the _ vote. the conservative party of course say that the governing l course say that the governing party will struggle in it by—election party will struggle in it by-election_ by-election booing , off by-election booing . off at! _ by-election booing , off at! honestly i by-election booing - , off at! honestly though, by-election booing _ , off at! honestly though, with

every excuse _ , off at! honestly though, with every excuse under _ , off at! honestly though, with every excuse under the - , off at! honestly though, with every excuse under the sun. i every excuse under the sun. rishi sunak is made an awful lot of— rishi sunak is made an awful lot of pledges that he's broken every— lot of pledges that he's broken every single one. the worst of all is _ every single one. the worst of all is there _ every single one. the worst of all is there are people in this country— all is there are people in this country who are poor then when he came — country who are poor then when he came to _ country who are poor then when he came to downing street, and that's— he came to downing street, and that's what everybody will be thinking about when it comes to the ballot — thinking about when it comes to the ballot box later this year. like — the ballot box later this year. like to — the ballot box later this year. like to say to him, "if that's your— like to say to him, "if that's your view— like to say to him, "if that's your view that by—elections don't — your view that by—elections don't count, then give us the general— don't count, then give us the general election, because we might— general election, because we might be toppling lots of dominoes." might be toppling lots of dominoes. "— dominoes." it's been a difficult _ dominoes." it's been a difficult week - dominoes." it's been a difficult week for - dominoes." it's been a i difficult week for labour, dominoes." it's been a - difficult week for labour, is this an opportunity to change the narrative?— this an opportunity to change the narrative? sometimes the week didn't — the narrative? sometimes the week didn't start _ the narrative? sometimes the week didn't start easily, - week didn't start easily, that's— week didn't start easily, that's true, but one of the things— that's true, but one of the things we had lots of people say at — things we had lots of people say at the door was keir starmar— say at the door was keir starmer has changed the labour party. _ starmer has changed the labour party. it's — starmer has changed the labour party, it's on the same party it was— party, it's on the same party it was into _ party, it's on the same party it was into it and 19, and he took— it was into it and 19, and he took decisive action earlier on this week _ took decisive action earlier on this week. i think people go, "you — this week. i think people go, "you know— this week. i think people go, "you know what, he's a sincere and _ "you know what, he's a sincere and decent _ "you know what, he's a sincere and decent man, he'll make a

good — and decent man, he'll make a good prime minister. if you can change — good prime minister. if you can change the labour party, that he can— change the labour party, that he can take this country into a different— he can take this country into a different direction," which is so many— different direction," which is so many people know that's what we desperately need some feel obviously you are hoping for a win here, _ obviously you are hoping for a win here, we've seen the numbers— win here, we've seen the numbers of them that have the red bits— numbers of them that have the red bits of paper around them to suggest it could rare“ red bits of paper around them to suggest it coul- to suggest it could well be auoin to suggest it could well be going you're _ to suggest it could well be going you're way - to suggest it could well be going you're way fairly - going you're way fairly imminently now. how big a win would be a really big win? than? would be a really big win? any win is obviously _ would be a really big win? any win is obviously a _ would be a really big win? any win is obviously a good win. in — win is obviously a good win. i'm hopeful of a good result. i don't — i'm hopeful of a good result. i don't want _ i'm hopeful of a good result. i don't want tojinx i'm hopeful of a good result. i don't want to jinx it! i'm hopeful of a good result. i don't want tojinx it! i don't know— don't want tojinx it! i don't know how— don't want tojinx it! i don't know how else to put it, i'm hopeful _ know how else to put it, i'm hopeful that we will do really welt — hopeful that we will do really well. we had a really good candidate, we ran a very positive _ candidate, we ran a very positive campaign about our plan — positive campaign about our plan for— positive campaign about our plan for changing kingswood and changing the country. the tory campaign _ changing the country. the tory campaign was vicious, nasty, negative, _ campaign was vicious, nasty, negative, every single day of the campaign, and they didn't offer— the campaign, and they didn't offerany— the campaign, and they didn't offer any reason for people to vote _ offer any reason for people to vote conservative. i'm not complacent about anything, i know— complacent about anything, i know people say, "you are bound to win _ know people say, "you are bound

to win these by—elections," you win by—elections because you put in — win by—elections because you put in the _ win by—elections because you put in the work and you show that— put in the work and you show that you _ put in the work and you show that you changed your own party and you — that you changed your own party and you listen to voters, and that's— and you listen to voters, and that's what we will need to do every— that's what we will need to do every single day all the way through— every single day all the way through to the general election. as i say, i hope this isjust— election. as i say, i hope this isjust the _ election. as i say, i hope this isjust the first election. as i say, i hope this is just the first domino that we've — is just the first domino that we've toppled this year, many more — we've toppled this year, many more to— we've toppled this year, many more to come.— we've toppled this year, many more to come. how confident are ou that more to come. how confident are you that a — more to come. how confident are you that a good — more to come. how confident are you that a good result _ more to come. how confident are you that a good result here - you that a good result here would be replicated across the general election?— general election? look, if eo - le general election? look, if people are _ general election? look, if people are switching - general election? look, if people are switching from conservative to labour, i think that— conservative to labour, i think that means that we stand a good chance _ that means that we stand a good chance at — that means that we stand a good chance at winning a general election— chance at winning a general election if we can keep our discipline our unity, if we can make — discipline our unity, if we can make sure _ discipline our unity, if we can make sure that what we offer the british people is notjust a change, but the change they really — a change, but the change they really want. we spoke to maybe 21.000 — really want. we spoke to maybe 21,000 people in this constituency in a very short period. _ constituency in a very short period. in— constituency in a very short period, in six weeks — i think the _ period, in six weeks — i think the tory— period, in six weeks — i think the tory candidate said he'd spoken— the tory candidate said he'd spoken to dozens or hundreds of people — spoken to dozens or hundreds of people. you can't win an

election— people. you can't win an election if you don't listen to the voters. what keir starmer has done _ the voters. what keir starmer has done with the labour party - i has done with the labour party — i remember sitting in the house _ — i remember sitting in the house of— — i remember sitting in the house of commons in the general election— house of commons in the general election -- — house of commons in the general election —— after the general election— election —— after the general election thinking labour would never— election thinking labour would never get back into power after 10-15— never get back into power after 10—15 years. keir starmer has changed _ 10—15 years. keir starmer has changed the party, put us in contention, the tories or probably tell you later on that the labour party recently held the labour party recently held the seat — the labour party recently held the seat - _ the labour party recently held the seat — no we didn't, we last— the seat — no we didn't, we last won _ the seat — no we didn't, we last won this seat 19 years ago — last won this seat 19 years ago. there were a people who voted — ago. there were a people who voted today who were not born the last — voted today who were not born the last time we won the seat. chris— the last time we won the seat. chris bryant, thanks very much for speaking to us. we will let you go, you can find out about the results. you can see the glint in your eye. t the results. you can see the glint in your eye.— glint in your eye. i got a lint glint in your eye. i got a glint in _ glint in your eye. i got a glint in my _ glint in your eye. i got a glint in my eye! - glint in your eye. i got a glint in my eye! i - glint in your eye. i got a glint in my eye! i so - glint in your eye. i got a | glint in my eye! i so hate being— glint in my eye! i so hate being in— glint in my eye! i so hate being in opposition, because you can't— being in opposition, because you can't bring the change that you can't bring the change that you desperately want to bring to a country. so when you win, it is— to a country. so when you win, it is a _ to a country. so when you win, it is a good _ to a country. so when you win, it is a good thing, but itjust makes —

it is a good thing, but itjust makes you go in the by—election, "right, we've got to do— by—election, "right, we've got to do all— by—election, "right, we've got to do all the work we've done here — to do all the work we've done here in— to do all the work we've done here in every single constituency in the country," that's— constituency in the country," that's what we'll do.- that's what we'll do. thanks for talking _ that's what we'll do. thanks for talking to _ that's what we'll do. thanks for talking to us, _ that's what we'll do. thanks for talking to us, off- that's what we'll do. thanks for talking to us, off you - that's what we'll do. thanks | for talking to us, off you go. laughter your candidate hasn't walked in whilst we were doing this, how they? i don't think they have. but we are still waiting for the labour candidate, it seems. which of course means we can't really have a result until they actually get there, hannah. absolutely, yeah, so we are waiting for the arrival of the labour candidate who is most likely going to be the next mp for kingswood. brute likely going to be the next mp for kingswood.— likely going to be the next mp for kingswood. we will keep an e e on for kingswood. we will keep an eye on that. — for kingswood. we will keep an eye on that, we'll— for kingswood. we will keep an eye on that, we'll let _ for kingswood. we will keep an eye on that, we'll let you - for kingswood. we will keep an eye on that, we'll let you go i eye on that, we'll let you go off and check where he might be, and we will come back to you. be, and we will come back to ou. ., be, and we will come back to ou. . ., ~ ., you. hang on! i think we have the moment. _ you. hang on! i think we have the moment. is— you. hang on! i think we have the moment. is he _ you. hang on! i think we have the moment. is he coming? l you. hang on! i think we have i the moment. is he coming? i'm getting nods — i think he's got to sign in. even if you're about to be a successful candidate, you still have to sign in. candidate, you still have to sin in. ., ., sign in. now the candidate, damien egan _ sign in. now the candidate, damien egan is _ sign in. now the candidate, damien egan is his - sign in. now the candidate,

damien egan is his name? | sign in. now the candidate, - damien egan is his name? yes, damien egan is his name? yes, damien egan — damien egan is his name? yes, damien egan wasn't _ damien egan is his name? yes, damien egan wasn't until - damien egan wasn't until recently the mayor of lewisham, he was born in this constituency, labour have made a big point of saying that. he's just about to come through the door with chris, who we been speaking with. thinking his labour supporters there. 50 thinking his labour supporters there. ., thinking his labour supporters there, ., ., thinking his labour supporters there. ., ., ., ., there. so from that round of applause. — there. so from that round of applause. they _ there. so from that round of applause, they think - there. so from that round of applause, they think they i applause, they think they probably wanted from that, hannah? t5 probably wanted from that, hannah? , probably wanted from that, hannah? . .,, probably wanted from that, hannah? . ., , ,., hannah? is there anything you want to say? _ hannah? is there anything you want to say? waiting - hannah? is there anything you want to say? waiting for - want to say? waiting for results. _ want to say? waiting for results, so _ want to say? waiting for results, so waiting - want to say? waiting for results, so waiting to i want to say? waiting for l results, so waiting to see, want to say? waiting for - results, so waiting to see, but feeling — results, so waiting to see, but feeling really happy and very excited — feeling really happy and very excited about what's next, so let's — excited about what's next, so let's see _ excited about what's next, so let's see-— let's see. we will let you go and speak _ let's see. we will let you go and speak to _ let's see. we will let you go and speak to you _ let's see. we will let you go and speak to you later. - let's see. we will let you go and speak to you later. so l let's see. we will let you go i and speak to you later. so that is the labour _ and speak to you later. so that is the labour party _ and speak to you later. so that is the labour party candidate l is the labour party candidate in thornberry arriving at the count there. your best guess

now, 10—15