helen morgan actually took a call from the lib dem leader —— neil shastri—hurst.e what they set out to do, which was give the government a bloodied nose whether that was by slashing the majority of winning, they have notjust done that, they have gone over that line and they have over achieved here, getting the majority of almost 6000. and just to reiterate, i want patterson, the former conservative mp in this can join c, had a majority ofjust under 23,000. join c, had a majority ofjust under23,000. —— owen join c, had a majority ofjust under 23,000. —— owen paterson. that hasjust been under 23,000. —— owen paterson. that has just been stripped away. an unbelievable result and it has shown that the campaign run by the liberal democrats here in shropshire has borne fruit. they have been out in numbers speaking to people. i would say what has been happening down in westminster has made it very, very difficult for the conservative candidate, neil shastri—hurst, but i think also there has been a feeling this is something dams have been trying to tap into on the doorste

neil shastri-hurst, _ press isn't entirely accurate.her names. we have spoken already to helen morgan, the liberal democrat candidate. you can hear her interview after eight o'clock. we are going to be hearing from the liver democrat candidate. there are a total of 14 candidates standing in the north shropshire by—election. here's a full list of them now. and you can find more details about the by—election on our website — bbc.co.uk/news. let me bring you some breaking news. we have heard in the last few minutes that the american citizen anne sacoolas is going to face criminal proceeding here in the uk, charged with causing the death of the teenager harry done by dangerous driving. 44—year—old anne sacoolas is accused of killing harry dunn in a road crash outside the american military base in northamptonshire in 2019. the case it will be hared at westminster magistrate court on january the 18th of us thought this is from the crown prosecution service and it's understood she will appear via video link, so an and went to the united states

neil shastri—hurst, conservative party — shastri—hurst, conservative party candidate, 12,032.a walmsley, reform uk, 1427~ and — rebecca walmsley, reform uk, 1427. and finally, benjamin thomas— 1427. and finally, benjamin thomas wood, labor party, 3686. the number of official ballot papers — the number of official ballot papers rejected was as follows: want _ papers rejected was as follows: want of — papers rejected was as follows: want of official mark, three. voting — want of official mark, three. voting for more than one candidate, 20. writing or mark by which — candidate, 20. writing or mark by which voting could not be identified, zero. unmarked or avoided — identified, zero. unmarked or avoided due to uncertainty, 51. the total— avoided due to uncertainty, 51. the total number of objected ballot — the total number of objected ballot papers were 74. the total— ballot papers were 74. the total number of votes cast across _ total number of votes cast across north shropshire at this election— across north shropshire at this election on 16 december 2021 was 38,096. the total e

at this stage conservative candidate neil shastri—hurst who has had a very difficult campaign partly because of what has been going on down in london at westminster with the party at number 10 in the to last christmas and accusations of sleaze and rebellions over covid, he has had a very difficult campaign and last week has been very, very intense and his team really had their heads down, and in the event it seems that they have lost out. he's so far has not arrived at the count, we expect he will arrive at some point, but it is quite difficult to find any conservatives who will talk to us at the moment or even have much to say at all. they are deeply disappointed. this result is going to be felt in westminster, felt acutely by the prime minister and his supporters because of course one thing that has always been said about borisjohnson apart from anything else, he is a winner. here in north shropshire that appears not to be the case. the liberal democrats are taking it in what is a historic or will be what is a historic or will be what is a historic victory for them. 0k, is a histor

their candidate, neil shastri—hurst fighting a losing battle.n the result and i am sure, as a party, we will do that, but, i repeat it again, i'm sure you'll understand that we are going to get a bit of shuteye and i'll go and give my eight week old a bit of a cuddle. the winner was jubilant as she celebrated with the lib dem leader on the telephone, ed davey, isolating at home with covid—19. and then the departure. lots of questions now for the prime minister. the by—election result comes after a turbulent month for the prime minister — with questions about lockdown parties in downing street last year and a rebellion of 100 of his mps this week over covid regulations more now from our political correspondent ben wright who is in westminster. no doubt this is a huge defeat for the tories. it no doubt this is a huge defeat for the tories. , _, , no doubt this is a huge defeat for the tories-— the tories. it is colossal and tops of a ri . id the tories. it is colossal and tops of a rigid week— the tories. it is colossal and tops of a rigid week fo

their candidate, dr neil shastri—hurst, fighting a losing battle. haste neil shastri-hurst, fightingwinner was “ubilant as she celebrated with i shuteye. the winner was “ubilant as she celebrated with the i shuteye. the winner wasjubilant as she celebrated with the lib - shuteye. the winner wasjubilant as she celebrated with the lib dems i she celebrated with the lib dems leader on the phone. ed davey isolating at home with covid. and then the departure and lots of questions now for the prime minister. local issues play something of a part in this campaign will stop ambulance waiting times, transport links, but the lib dems effectively it seems put forward a message that people in this constituency felt left behind and taken for granted and that clearly resonated with voters. they will be looking on thinking, if the conservatives can be beaten here, they can possibly be beaten just about anywhere. no doubt the government will attempt to soften the blow saying it is a mid—term by—election when those in power off and take a beating. it has been a fascinating _ power off and take a beat

their candidate, neil shastri—hurst, fighting a losing battle.sult and i am sure, as a party, we will do that, but, i repeat it again, i'm sure you'll understand if we all go and get a bit of shuteye and i go and give my eight—week—old a bit of a cuddle. the winner was jubilant as she celebrated with the lib dem leader on the telephone, ed davey isolating at home with covid. and then the departure. lots of questions now for the prime minister. well the liberal democrat leader, sir ed davey, is isolating at home with coronavirus — but was stilljubilant when he spoke to the bbc earlier. it was a spectacular result. i think this is a watershed moment in british politics. i am so delighted for helen morgan, our new liberal democrat mp for north shropshire. i am so proud of our party and ourcampaigners, and i think we brought new hope to the whole nation who have been so worried and fed up with borisjohnson. we have now beaten the conservatives in two of their safest seats this year. i think the liberal democrats have now proven the conservatives can