Politics

Tories suffer two defeats but avoid whitewash in British by-elections

A narrow win in Uxbridge and South Ruislip spared the ruling Conservatives from a sweep

Keir Mather, 25, becomes the youngest member of Britain’s House of Commons after his by-election win. Picture: PA

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak suffered a double by-election defeat in safe Tory seats, with Labour and the Liberal Democrats both overturning majorities of about 20,000 but held onto one seat in Thursday’s by-elections.

Labour won Selby and Ainsty and the Liberal Democrats took Somerton and Frome on sizable swings which will leave many Tory MPs looking nervously at their own majorities.

Sunak was spared the prospect of being the first prime minister since 1968 ...