Milton Keynes Conservatives and the city’s Tory MP have been humiliated as they were crushed in a devastating loss, slipping from first to third as Labour surged to second in the Newport Pagnell by election.

The by-election was held on Thursday due to a Conservative councillor having to resign after criminal convictions for driving offences were revealed.

The Conservatives and the city’s MP North MP Ben Everitt staked their reputation on an anti-growth campaign and claims around the impact of the closure of the A509 South. The road is being temporality closed to widen the highway, install a new bridge over the M1, build new health facilities and new schools.

Labour have never held the Newport Pagnell seat but stormed into second place. The Conservatives, who held the seat until the resignation of their councillor in July, slipped to a pathetic third place as their vote crumbled.

Labour now look to be on track to win the MK North parliamentary seat at the upcoming General Election given the voters humiliating rejection of the Conservatives in Newport Pagnell on Thursday. Labour also won long-time Conservative stronghold of Olney at the local elections in May.

The election in Newport Pagnell was won by the Liberal Democrats

Cllr Peter Marland, Leader of the MK City Council said:

“The result is amazing for the Labour Party. We have never performed well in Newport Pagnell and to now come a close second shows what a fantastic candidate we had and what a great campaign we had.

The voters of Newport Pagnell have humiliated the Conservatives and their MP. They conducted an anti-growth, anti-infrastructure and anti-truth campaign. Now maybe Ben Everitt will put his shirt back on, stop playing games and use his last days in office to work for the benefit of the people of MK.”

Chris Curtis, Labour Parliamentary spokesperson for MK North said:

“The result in Newport Pagnell, and results such as Labour winning Olney in May, shows that Labour is on course to win the parliamentary seat when the General Election comes. It’s humiliating for the Conservatives and their MP that their only message has been so thoroughly rejected at the ballot box. We know Labour has more work to do, but we are on the right tracks.”

Saskia Soden, Labour’s candidate in Newport Pagnell South said:

“I’d like to thank the people of Newport Pagnell South for their support. I’m disappointed we couldn’t quite win this time, but I congratulate the Liberal Democrats for their win.”