Batley and Spen By-Election: ‘Work is Coming Home’ Says Sir Keir Starmer After Close Win | Politics News

Sir Keir Starmer said “the work is back” as he told his party that Batley and Spen’s by-election victory shows what can be achieved when he “comes together”.

The Labor leader joined Britain’s last MP Kim Leadbeater in the West Yorkshire constituency on Friday after her victory by 323 votes over the Conservatives.

The result eases the pressure on Sir Keir, who might have faced further questions about his leadership of the Labor Party – and even a possible challenge to the leadership – had the party not taken the seat.

And, when asked what his post-victory message to his party was, Sir Keir said: “My message is that when the Labor Party sticks to its core values, it is rooted in its communities and stands by itself. put together, we can win just like we did. won here.

“This is the start, Labor is back.”

Adapting the refrain from English football fans at Euro 2020, Sir Keir also told constituency supporters: “This is just the start. I want a lot more days like this. The job is down to the House.”

The Labor leader has faced a few months of bruising, following a series of disappointing local election results, a defeat in the Hartlepool by-elections and a poor performance in the Chesham and Amersham contest on the month latest.

This had led to suggest that Sir Keir’s critics on the Labor left were plotting a challenge to the leadership if the party lost to Batley and Spen.

But, when it was suggested that Ms Leadbeater had “saved her skin”, Sir Keir said the by-election victory was “a victory for the whole Labor movement”.

“Of course this is a special victory for Kim – she is a fantastic candidate and what she comes up with is amazing and I pay absolute tribute to her,” he said of the winning Labor candidate. , who is the sister of murdered MP Jo Cox.

“But this is a victory for the Labor movement and it has filled everyone’s hearts …