good morning. this is bbc news. we start with the government suffereing a double by—election defeat at the hands of labour. its the latest blow to the conservatives less than a year from a general election that opinion polls suggest they are likely to lose. labour candidates overturned comfortable majorities in kingswood and wellingborough. hailing the results, labour's leader, sir keir starmer, said the british people were ready to put their trust in his party to deliver change. genevieve victoria, also known as gen kitchen, labour party, 13,8“; votes. cheering. it's a result even better than they had hoped for. the biggest drop in the conservative vote, and the second largest swing from tory to labour in any by—election since the second world war. they know that our roads are not fit to drive on, getting our child a doctor's appointment can seem impossible, and that they are paying more and getting less. today, they said enough is enough.

wellingborough was also record—breaking for reform uk. the party picked up 13% of the vote, its biggest share yet. the tories are terrified of us because we've got the policies that make sense, that bluntly will save britain, and they realise that they've had their opportunity, they've blown it, they've messed up the economy, they've allowed mass emigration, they're obsessed with net—zero — the labour party's the same — so people are actually voting positively, saying, thank heavens there's someone who's arrived on the scene who's got some good policies that essentially will save britain, and that's why people are starting to vote for us. in kingswood, labour arrived with a spring in their step on the journey towards power, winning by more than 2,500 votes in a seat that has a tendency to pick the winner in general elections over the years. westminster needs to understand that you can't get a dentist, there is no dentist accepting nhs patients anywhere in bristol. it's really hard to get to a doctor.

people don't feel safe on the streets. the cost of living crisis is notjust a slogan, it's impacting people. you've got families who haven't been on holidays for years, people are worried about what food they put in the trolley, about heating up their homes in winter, and it's putting a lot of stress on family life as well. despite the win, labour didn't do quite as well as it has done in the past, some consolation for the one conservative willing to speak. it's not as bad as i'd expected. if you add together the conservative and the reform party vote, it's more than the labour party. labour did not get over 50%. bear in mind this was a seat labour held throughout its period of government from 1997 to 2010. if it's not winning, and winning strongly in a by—election, then its prospects for the general election aren't that good. everyone here knows that success in a by—election doesn't necessarily translate to triumph when a general election comes.

but the voters in wellingborough and kingswood have played a part in shaping the narrative as that unknown date looms ever closer. hannah miller, bbc news. let's speak to geri scott, senior political correspondent at the times. to what extent do you think these results are indicative of the wider picture? results are indicative of the wider icture? j . ., , ., , picture? by-elections are very different to — picture? by-elections are very different to general _ picture? by-elections are very different to general elections, i picture? by-elections are very - different to general elections, turn out lower, people do not vote in a very big night at a general election because it does not make a government however i think what we are seeing with multiple by—elections going to labour wins is a sense of momentum. they say master politics is perception and the perception is now that sir keir starmer will be the next prime minister so it's damaging for rishi sunak, keir starmerwill minister so it's damaging for rishi sunak, keir starmer will celebrate

but there are some months it to go until we have a general election and everything could change. what until we have a general election and everything could change.— until we have a general election and everything could change. what do you think the everything could change. what do you thinkthe main — everything could change. what do you think the main issues _ everything could change. what do you think the main issues are _ everything could change. what do you think the main issues are now- think the main issues are now driving people to vote on a particular way? driving people to vote on a particularway? i driving people to vote on a particular way?— driving people to vote on a articular wa ? ., , ., particular way? i went to kingsford and wellingborough _ particular way? i went to kingsford and wellingborough ahead - particular way? i went to kingsford and wellingborough ahead of - particular way? i went to kingsford and wellingborough ahead of the l and wellingborough ahead of the by—elections and i spoke to people in both constituencies and the things they were talking about where the nhs, potholes came up, it always does, the cost—of—living, but it is a general sense of the country being quite run down, public services not being the same as people want them to be. so those are the kind of issues coming up and i think we saw that in a lot of the campaigns. those of the issues labour was trying to tap into for is the conservative campaign especially in wellingborough was a focus on helen harrison and her brexit credentials, in kingswood a big focus on protecting the green belt but what i

was hearing was the broken things that people want to see fixed. people do not attribute that to a combination of the war in ukraine and the pandemic and the subsequent rise in prices. they are not buying that now? it’s rise in prices. they are not buying that now? �* , ., ., , ., ., that now? it's not that they are not bu in: it, that now? it's not that they are not buying it. peeple — that now? it's not that they are not buying it, people understand - that now? it's not that they are not buying it, people understand there| buying it, people understand there have been massive shocks that the country was not expecting but at the end of the day, it's down to how people feel in their day—to—day life. i used to work at the yorkshire post and i worked there during the 2019 general election when levelling up was the promise of the day and at that point the question was whether people feel better off at the next election and i think that's still the question, it's just there are various other things drawn into the mix of it's notjust things drawn into the mix of it's not just do you things drawn into the mix of it's notjust do you feel your town centre has had a makeover? it's can you get a doctors and dentist appointment, what is your cost—of—living going up to and that is where people will ask themselves.

that's just when people are voting they are looking up at the labour party as a whole are saying rather than just local issues in this context so it could be indicative of what will happen in the election? i think there are other factors at play. in wellingborough for example peter bone, there were circumstances around how he was ousted from office, the candidate was his girlfriend, that did not have the conservatives, it helped the labour party in some ways. similarly, with the resignation of the mp in kingswood, there are specific circumstances and by—elections, when you top them up and you see labour winning time and time again probably points towards a future general election. we points towards a future general election. ~ , ., ., ., election. we should turn to reform uk, what can _ election. we should turn to reform uk. what can we — election. we should turn to reform uk, what can we deduce _ election. we should turn to reform uk, what can we deduce from - election. we should turn to reform | uk, what can we deduce from that? it's a pretty extraordinary performance, 13% of the vote in one

seat, 10% and another and beating the liberal democrats to become the third party, the lib dems lost their deposit they got so few votes, i believe this performance will scare some conservatives. we finally have some conservatives. we finally have some mps this morning saying the party needs to mouth more to the right to counter this threat from reform uk and that party is not afraid to take on the tories, they say that operation is about kicking the tories out of office and it's clear, conservatives saying this morning, that some of the voters have gone to reform uk but how that holds up at a general election is quite different and it might be some sort of a protest vote and under the voting system we have it is unlikely the party would get any mps so some of those tory voters might go back any general election but rishi sunak will come under pressure from the right flank of his party in particular. right flank of his party in particular-—

the leader of the labour party said he was very pleased with the result on bbc breakfast earlier this morning, but said his team still had more work to do ahead of an election. understandably we are very pleased with the results, these were huge swings to the labour party, the wellingborough bomb was the second biggest swing in a by—election since the second world war so this is a very significant swing. i think there are messages from the by—elections, the country is crying out for change and everyone knows the nhs is not working. —— the wellingborough run. they have concluded the choice have failed after 1a years, they can see the labour party has changed, it is a different party to the one in 2019 and they can see we have the answers to the problems and i was very pleased last night to see that we were clearly getting tory switches, in other words people who hadn't

voted for the labour party before coming out last night and voting for the labour party in a by—election and i think that vindicates or is evidence but i would say this, especially to my team, there is more work today, there is always more work today, there is always more work do. there's a long way to go before this election and the sydney football fan knows you do not win the league by a good win in february so we've got to keep at this and turn every vote.— turn every vote. let's speak to henry seth — turn every vote. let's speak to henry seth man _ turn every vote. let's speak to henry seth man who _ turn every vote. let's speak to henry seth man who is - turn every vote. let's speak to henry seth man who is in - henry seth man who is in wellingborough. enlighten us further. fix. wellingborough. enlighten us further. �* ., ., ., , ., further. a lot of orders i have soken further. a lot of orders i have spoken to _ further. a lot of orders i have spoken to this _ further. a lot of orders i have spoken to this morning - further. a lot of orders i have spoken to this morning are i further. a lot of orders i have - spoken to this morning are extremely exercised by local issues. potholes keep coming up, the state of the high street behind me, shops closing, lots of gambling shops opening and vaping shots shops and

you can always ascribe local factors but this is part of an on ignorable national trend, by—election after by—election stonking conservative get overturned by the labour party so in each of those by—elections there will be local factors. the conservatives here are talking about the circumstances in which the by—election was called, the previous mp peter bone was essentially expeued mp peter bone was essentially expelled from parliament after misconduct findings against him but there's clearly something nationally going on for a lot of voters are fed up going on for a lot of voters are fed up with the conservative party and they are showing that either by staying at home or voting for the labour party. staying at home or voting for the labour party-— staying at home or voting for the labour pa . ~ . ., ,., ., labour party. what about the reform -a ? labour party. what about the reform party? very — labour party. what about the reform party? very strong. _ labour party. what about the reform party? very strong, 1396 _ labour party. what about the reform party? very strong, 1396 of— labour party. what about the reform party? very strong, 1396 of the - labour party. what about the reform party? very strong, 1396 of the vote, | party? very strong, 1396 of the vote, the strongest _ party? very strong, 1396 of the vote, the strongest showing _ party? very strong, 1396 of the vote, the strongest showing in _ party? very strong, 1396 of the vote, the strongest showing in any - the strongest showing in any by—election although not quite as strong as some of the showings we saw from yacoub in the bag is a project which share a lot of personnel with reform uk? the particular concern from the

conservatives with the they are losing votes in both direction, more so to the labour party but some to reform uk and in kingswood, the number of votes reform uk got was greater than the size of the labour party margin of victory over the tories so if you make that generous assumption that all reform uk voters can go to the conservatives if you are a conservative mp you could say that's why the reason they lost a by—election but here in wellingborough if you combine reform uk 13% of the vote with the tory party share of the vote that are still some way off the scale of the vote the labour party got so that suggests it's much wider than licking votes to the right, it's the conservatives looking votes in every direction. i5 conservatives looking votes in every direction. , ., direction. is it possible from conversations _ direction. is it possible from conversations you _ direction. is it possible from conversations you have - direction. is it possible from conversations you have had | direction. is it possible from - conversations you have had with voters to what extent they are motivated by what is said by the leadership of the labour party or what extent are they motivated by

local issues or are they simply disillusioned with the tories? that last one is disillusioned with the tories? twat last one is definitely a big theme, a very recurring theme in the conversations i have had here. that said, from people i have spoken to, there was some people raised the labour candidate, she grew up here and is moving back here now is the mp. some people said they liked, one person told me how her granddaughter went to school with her, often you get things like that in a by—election, especially if you have a local candidate but it's obviously of a piece with the national picture which is frustration with the conservative party and the conservative party and the conservative government was successive conservative governments because they've been in office for 14 because they've been in office for 1h years and we know with british 1a years and we know with british electoral history that is kind of a point in the cycle when voters start blaming parties for every problem.

that's very dangerous and actually for the conservative party.- for the conservative party. henry, ou for the conservative party. henry, you mentioned — for the conservative party. henry, you mentioned the _ for the conservative party. henry, you mentioned the high _ for the conservative party. henry, you mentioned the high street - for the conservative party. henry, | you mentioned the high street and you mentioned the high street and you pointed behind me and the preponderance of betting shops and vaping shops. this is a problem for high street generally under a reflection of the fact many people are shopping online? yes. reflection of the fact many people are shopping online?— are shopping online? yes, that is definitely a _ are shopping online? yes, that is definitely a trend. _ are shopping online? yes, that is definitely a trend. that _ are shopping online? yes, that is definitely a trend. that is - are shopping online? yes, that is definitely a trend. that is bound l are shopping online? yes, that is l definitely a trend. that is bound up with broader trends about digital taking over all sorts of different parts of public life. but that's not to say voters cannot be frustrated evenif to say voters cannot be frustrated even if they are shopping online! they are definitely frustrated at what is happening on the high streets around them on the other thing people have mentioned is antisocial behaviour in the centre of towns, that gets two issues way

beyond online shopping, that's issues to do with police and funding and community so there's definitely and community so there's definitely a feeling of frustration. i spoke to a feeling of frustration. i spoke to a voter who'd lived here since 1966, she said she had never known the town in the state that it is now and by the way worth mentioning, the wellingborough constituency which voted yesterday as notjust wellingborough constituency which voted yesterday as not just this town, there a couple of other towns, principally rushton which is the other big town and lots of villages and rural areas so it's notjust a case of voters in one town shifting towards the labour party or away from the conservatives, there are quite a lot of other areas, some of them affluent which i can quite heavily against the conservatives. henry, thank you so much. we have not yet heard from the prime minister. earlier the conservative party chairman, richard holden told naga munchetty that turn out was low

in both constituencies. it's not a great result for the conservatives, obviously, overnight losing these two by—elections. but i think we've got to look at the context of them as well. one of them in kingswood, we had seen an mp stand down. obviously it's only, you know, less than a year before general election as well. and in wellingborough we saw a recall petition, an mp forced to stand down as well. so, you know, not an ideal context at all to have these by—elections in and both with those local contexts as well. ithink, though, you know, the big thing that i've noticed as well is in addition to obviously the results themselves, as you just talked about to the viewers, also the turnout figures being so substantially down in both of the by—elections, about half of what we saw at the last general election as well. 0k. which of these statements don't you agree with? 0ur chief political correspondent said it's a calamitous result

for the conservative party. 0ur political analystjohn curtice says the conservatives are in deep, deep electoral trouble, a government that is staring defeat in the face. do you disagree with any of those statements? well, look, ithink there's no denying. you can sort of talk it up as much as you like. there's no denying that these are not great results for the conservative party. what i would say, though, is that we've seen turnout figures, you know, very substantially down as well. we've not seen a massive switch from the conservatives to labour or anybody else. what we've seen is a huge number of people who had voted conservative in 2019 staying at home. and if you look at the, you know, both results, i think particularly in kingswood actually, you know, fewer... significantly fewer people voted labour this time than they did at the last general election. so this is very much i think people are, you know,

holding their votes at home rather than going out to make a positive decision either way. but there were some who turned out who voted conservative or have voted conservative before. and analysis of the data suggests that for every there were switches to labour from the conservatives, but there are also switches to reform uk as well. and reform has said its ambition is to block conservative victories in the general election. where reform was standing, that they have a point, they have a chance of doing that and fulfilling that ambition? you know, i think you're absolutely right. that is reform's ambition. their ambition is to block conservatives winning seats and therefore put keir starmer into downing street. they've made it very clear. you've read out that statement from them. that's what reform uk want to do. they want to see keir starmer in downing street and and not have a conservative government.

let's speak to our south west england jenny kumah, who is in kingswood. we've been talking about what was motivating voters but about kingswood?— motivating voters but about kinaswood? �* , ., ., ., kingswood? i've been here at one of the main shopping — kingswood? i've been here at one of the main shopping centres _ kingswood? i've been here at one of the main shopping centres and - the main shopping centres and talking to people there's been a mix of views. in other said they did not bother to vote. i spoke to some longtime labour voters who were pleased that the mp is not a conservative, chris skidmore previous mp who stood down over concerns over the conservative policy on environmental policies, others told me they used about conservatives but they wanted to change so they bought it for the labour party. joining me here to discuss the results is doctorjames

friedman from bristol university. this one for the labour party was widely predicted but how significant do you think it is? the widely predicted but how significant do you think it is?— do you think it is? the national olls do you think it is? the national polls were _ do you think it is? the national polls were predicting _ do you think it is? the national polls were predicting it - do you think it is? the national polls were predicting it will - do you think it is? the national polls were predicting it will go l polls were predicting it will go this way— polls were predicting it will go this way and some of the local polling — this way and some of the local polling but ultimately when a party comes _ polling but ultimately when a party comes from 23 percentage points behind _ comes from 23 percentage points behind to— comes from 23 percentage points behind to ten points in front with a 16% swing — behind to ten points in front with a 16% swing that are significant. in bristol_ 16% swing that are significant. in bristol and the surrounding area in kingswood — bristol and the surrounding area in kingswood and south gloucestershire, what you _ kingswood and south gloucestershire, what you have is an example of the city a _ what you have is an example of the city a pistol— what you have is an example of the city a pistol with a red concentration, the labour seats that have been_ concentration, the labour seats that have been run since 2015 and a sea of blue _ have been run since 2015 and a sea of blue around it but this is an example — of blue around it but this is an example when that picture is beginning to change with seats on the edge — beginning to change with seats on the edge with a mixture of open country— the edge with a mixture of open country at — the edge with a mixture of open country at the age and to the east more _ country at the age and to the east more suburban areas, if labour can repeat— more suburban areas, if labour can repeat that — more suburban areas, if labour can repeat that across the country is one of— repeat that across the country is one of the — repeat that across the country is one of the ways they could secure a

majority _ one of the ways they could secure a majority so — one of the ways they could secure a ma'ori . ., . .,, one of the ways they could secure a ma'ori . , ., majority. so jacob rees-mogg was at the count last — majority. so jacob rees-mogg was at the count last night _ majority. so jacob rees-mogg was at the count last night and _ majority. so jacob rees-mogg was at the count last night and he _ majority. so jacob rees-mogg was at the count last night and he said - majority. so jacob rees-mogg was at the count last night and he said the i the count last night and he said the majority here, 2500, not an impressive win, is thatjust spin? the majority depends on how many people _ the majority depends on how many people bought this was a low turnout because _ people bought this was a low turnout because it _ people bought this was a low turnout because it is a by—election but if look— because it is a by—election but if took at — because it is a by—election but if took at the — because it is a by—election but if look at the votes for reform uk and you add _ look at the votes for reform uk and you add them on top of the conservative vote, he was trying to say that _ conservative vote, he was trying to say that gets you more votes than labour— say that gets you more votes than labour but — say that gets you more votes than labour but it does not really stack up labour but it does not really stack up because — labour but it does not really stack up because if you add the lib dems and the _ up because if you add the lib dems and the green party to the labour party— and the green party to the labour party votes, it's more than that. but the — party votes, it's more than that. but the conservative spin rate, reform uk got 10% of the vote? it gives us evidence that reform uk numbers— gives us evidence that reform uk numbers stack up, they have been poring _ numbers stack up, they have been poring around 10% but at least in kingswood they have been roughly accurate _ kingswood they have been roughly accurate and it shows that the conservative party vote seems to be great _ conservative party vote seems to be great not _ conservative party vote seems to be great not just a

conservative party vote seems to be great notjust a labour conservative party vote seems to be great not just a labour but split into reform uk as well and that will be some conservatives depending on the set _ be some conservatives depending on the set of— be some conservatives depending on the set of their constituency. a bit like the set of their constituency. a bit like in _ the set of their constituency. a bit like in 2014— the set of their constituency. a bit like in 2014 the clacton by—election with you _ like in 2014 the clacton by—election with you keep winning, it upset the policies _ with you keep winning, it upset the policies of— with you keep winning, it upset the policies of the conservative party. boundary — policies of the conservative party. boundary changes underway. jacob rees—mogg in a neighbouring constituency and some of it was split into that. for constituency and some of it was split into that.— split into that. for we are in kingswood. _ split into that. for we are in kingswood, it _ split into that. for we are in kingswood, it will— split into that. for we are in kingswood, it will be - split into that. for we are in kingswood, it will be split i split into that. for we are in i kingswood, it will be split four ways _ kingswood, it will be split four ways on — kingswood, it will be split four ways on the part of the constituency churning _ ways on the part of the constituency churning that ofjacob rees—mogg and becoming _ churning that ofjacob rees—mogg and becoming north—east somerset has tended _ becoming north—east somerset has tended to _ becoming north—east somerset has tended to have strong adverts for the conservatives than elsewhere so whether— the conservatives than elsewhere so whether it _ the conservatives than elsewhere so whether it was him or not, new constituencies with all of but some of the _ constituencies with all of but some of the labour party voting in this constituency, which will become bristol— constituency, which will become bristol north—east, that is when the candidate _ bristol north—east, that is when the candidate that will hear today will stand _ candidate that will hear today will stand for— candidate that will hear today will stand for the labour party.-

stand for the labour party. thank ou so stand for the labour party. thank you so much _ stand for the labour party. thank you so much and _ stand for the labour party. thank you so much and this _ stand for the labour party. thank| you so much and this constituency stand for the labour party. thank- you so much and this constituency as we know it will not exist, damien egan will be the new mp and also the last mp for this place. that is your update on what has happened. pulling google professor sirjohn curtice from the university of strathclyde is now with us. the from the university of strathclyde is now with us.— from the university of strathclyde is now with us. the one thing we got out of the by-elections _ is now with us. the one thing we got out of the by-elections and - is now with us. the one thing we got out of the by-elections and was - out of the by—elections and was reflected in your previous contribution is the fact it looks as though reform uk are able to win notable share of the vote. we know from the polling data that a lot of thatis from the polling data that a lot of that is coming from people who voted conservative in 2019 stop not all of them will necessarily go conservative if reform uk went on the ballot paper but it is clear reform uk will do more damage to the conservatives than to the labour

party and that's not going to be enough for reform uk themselves to win a seat but it increases the risk to conservative mps that they will lose their seat to the labour party especially if you bear in mind that in these constituencies, the constituencies, the predecessor the brexit party of reform uk did not stand because they stood down on our seats conservatives were not defending. richard tye, the former —— the current reform uk leader has said that will not happen. the fact they're taking votes from conservatives, the evidence at these by—elections are consistent with that otherwise in a sense, it's almost more of the same except with perhaps slightly more exaggerated flash especially in wellingborough. the conservatives are in deep electoral trouble and they think that way ever since the premiership of liz truss and we have seen a

second—biggest swing from the conservatives to labour in wellingborough ever. the biggest fall in the conservative support everin fall in the conservative support ever in wellingborough. the circumstances surrounding the downfall of the local conservative mp peter bone and succeeded as candidate by his partner, they should not be losing votes on that kind of scale. meanwhile in kingswood this fall of 21 points in conservative support is in line with opinion polls so we have more evidence in addition to the by—elections in the second half of last year, keeping in line with the opinion polls that conservatives are struggling to do very much at all to recoverfrom struggling to do very much at all to recover from the disaster that the administration of liz truss proved to be from them.— to be from them. assess the conservatives _ to be from them. assess the conservatives using - to be from them. assess the conservatives using ground l to be from them. assess the l conservatives using ground or to be from them. assess the - conservatives using ground or the labour party gaining ground? the labour party gaining ground? twa conservatives labour party gaining ground? twa:

conservatives are labour party gaining ground? twa conservatives are losing labour party gaining ground? tue: conservatives are losing ground heavily, the polls say in transferable skill a half of the conservative vote is going to the labour party and half of it to reform uk but basically the labour party, the vote went up by about half of the decline in the conservative vote and reform uk more or less took up more of the slack and that's more or less the position in this constituency so we must be careful about reading the floor but the truth is the evidence is consistent that yes, it is notjust voters going from tory and labour which is what sir keir starmer would like us to believe. it is also the conservatives going to reform but that in itself makes life easier for egypt so far as picking up seats are concerned and we should particularly acknowledge the performance of labour in wellingborough, maybe hat by local circumstances, one of the best performances by the british labour party post—war. iusi’hat

best performances by the british labour party post-war. what can be deduced by — labour party post-war. what can be deduced by turner, _ labour party post-war. what can be deduced by turner, 3896 _ labour party post-war. what can be deduced by turner, 3896 in - deduced by turner, 38% in wellingborough, 37 in kingswood so how does that stack up? this is wellingborough, 37 in kingswood so how does that stack up? as is nearly alwa s the how does that stack up? as is nearly always the case. _ how does that stack up? as is nearly always the case, the _ how does that stack up? as is nearly always the case, the party _ how does that stack up? as is nearly always the case, the party that - how does that stack up? as is nearly always the case, the party that did i always the case, the party that did badly set our voters stayed at home and there might be some truth in that but it creates no guarantee that but it creates no guarantee that they will return in the general election but what all parties —— party sa smoke stay in line, we are looking at a record fall in turnout. the last parliament in which the turnout was on the same scale as it has been acknow, 28 points, was the parliament of 97—2001. the end of which turned out in the general election all down to 59% and i think there is a clear message to all of there is a clear message to all of the parties and their leaders. we are looking at the discontented and probably pessimistic electric but it's not entirely clear why all of

them are convinced that going to the polling station and casting your vote for any of them is necessarily going to improve their lot. at a pinch all of the parties need to convince voters it would be worth doing so. convince voters it would be worth doinu so. ., , ,, convince voters it would be worth doinu so. ., ,, .~ doing so. professor sirjohn curtice, thank _ doing so. professor sirjohn curtice, thank you - doing so. professor sirjohn curtice, thank you so - doing so. professor sirjohn| curtice, thank you so much. let's speak to councillor scott brown, a local conservative councillor in wellingborough who was part of that losing candidate s campaign team. welcome. for did it go wrong? good morninu. welcome. for did it go wrong? good morning- the _ welcome. for did it go wrong? good morning. the national— welcome. for did it go wrong? good morning. the national victory - welcome. for did it go wrong? good morning. the national victory is - welcome. for did it go wrong? good morning. the national victory is not| morning. the national victory is not looking good for us this morning. what came up on the doorstep time and again, the cost of living crisis, particularly the town centre came up, it impacted and the lakes, fantastic facility and it has had a great impact. we've got a blueprint

in northamptonshire on what can be done, if you look at our neighbours northampton, they've got £130 million of investment for a better project, there is a big new leisure centre project, there is a regeneration of market square and all with the aim of creating a vibrant town centre and we need to get some investment in there and improve the town centre. the big issue alongside the cost of living. if it's a question of spending money then where does that money come from? ~ �* ., ., , _ from? we've got to be guided by the economy under— from? we've got to be guided by the economy under some _ from? we've got to be guided by the economy under some signs - from? we've got to be guided by the economy under some signs that - from? we've got to be guided by the economy under some signs that has | economy under some signs that has come in. 0bviously rishi sunak has put in place but you can see inflation coming back down. we need to get the economy going again. start feeling better off than there were some years ago and that is not

the case at the moment and it is not the case at the moment and it is not the case... there will be on a per bottle for any incoming government so we need to create economic conditions that allow business to thrive but will make people feel better off. ~ ., thrive but will make people feel better off. ~ . , ., ., ,, ., better off. what did you make of the turnout and — better off. what did you make of the turnout and how— better off. what did you make of the turnout and how it _ better off. what did you make of the turnout and how it influenced - better off. what did you make of the turnout and how it influenced the - turnout and how it influenced the result? ., ., , , result? turnout was disappointing, as is often the _ result? turnout was disappointing, as is often the case _ result? turnout was disappointing, as is often the case in _ as is often the case in by—elections. i am of the opinion that politics in this country needs to grow up a little bit. we got a sophisticated electorate to speak to the purpose populist mantra creeping into our politics and i do not think it does us any favours. there are some really hot deals that the public are going to have to swallow going down in the next three years when we look at social care, housing, planning reform, this will be essentially pretty unpopular for

most of the population. but i think if we can get in the position we have a grown—up conversation about this then that will go a long way and i think people will start engaging with politics again. how big a claim have you got before the national general election? it is a hue the national general election? it is a huge amount _ the national general election? it 3 a huge amount to climb, especially in wellingborough, after last night's results. i would like to offer my congratulations tojen on her victory, she ran a very effective campaign, but we will hold her to account any promises she has made during her campaign. thank you for “oininr made during her campaign. thank you forjoining us- — the victor in that seat — and labour's newest mp — is gen kitchen. here's a little of what she said in her victory speech. iam i am delighted to be stood here as the newly elected labour mp for wellingborough. cheering and applause i am honoured that local people have

placed their trust in me and