Labour has inflicted a major defeat on Rishi Sunak in his own backyard by winning the first York and North Yorkshire mayoral race.
David Skaith, Labour’s candidate, beat Tory Keane Duncan for the newly created role by 66,761 votes to 51,967. It will come as blow to Mr Sunak, whose Richmond constituency is in the area, meaning his own constituents elected a Labour mayor. No10 refused to say where, when and how Mr Sunak had voted but it is believed that he voted in Yorkshire.
A Labour spokeswoman said: “This is a truly historic result in York and North Yorkshire. Keir Starmer’s Labour party is now winning in Rishi Sunak’s backyard. The Prime Minister’s own constituents have taken a look at the two parties and chosen Labour.”
The Lib Dems came third, Greens fourth and two independents in fifth and sixth, meaning the Tories are unable to point to the threat from Reform UK for the result. The rise of the Nigel Farage-linked party has been worrying Conservatives. Reform UK’s performance in the Blackpool South by-election – where its candidate Mark Butcher came just 117 votes behind the Conservatives – will fray Tory nerves further.
In his victory speech, Mr Skaith said: “I think we’ve got a great opportunity to bring York and North Yorkshire to grow and really grow as one collectively. I think the message is clear from York and North Yorkshire and across the country that we want change.
“I believe in the Labour Party and under Keir Starmer we have huge potential for this and I hope this continues.”
It comes as Labour’s Kim McGuinness won the North East mayoralty, seeing off a challenge from Labour-turned independent Jamie Driscoll. McGuinness secured 185,051 votes, defeating Mr Driscoll by a margin of just under 60,000 votes.
But the Tories held onto Tees Valley, where Tory poster boy Ben Houchen saw his majority reduced by a 16.7% swing to Labour. If this swing was repeated in a general election, Labour believes it would win every seat in the region.
Lord Houchen’s victory provided a much-needed boost for the embattled Prime Minister. But his decision to distance himself from Mr Sunak during the campaign – and his failure to don a Tory rosette for the declaration – raised eyebrows.
But Lord Houchen later appeared with Mr Sunak at a victory rally, where he said he was “humbled” to win a third term, adding: “I couldn’t have done it without you, Prime Minister.”