The new MP for Tamworth has issued a call for an immediate general election after her decisive by-election win.
Sarah Edwards overturned a majority of more than 19,000 votes to record the second-highest ever by-election swing to Labour over the Conservatives.
Ms Edwards won by a margin of 1,316 votes with a 35.95 per cent turnout.
She polled 11,719 votes compared with Conservative candidate Andrew Cooper’s 10,403 votes.
The swing of 23.9 per cent to Labour represents the third occasion this year on which the party has topped 20 per cent.
In her post-victory speech Ms Edwards, a union organiser for Unite and former NHS governor, said: “The people of Tamworth have voted for Labour’s positive vision and a fresh start.
“They’ve sent a clear message to Rishi Sunak and the Conservatives that they have had enough of this failed Government, which has crashed the economy and destroyed our public services.
“It is not acceptable that our town centre has been allowed to lose shop after shop with no plan to rejuvenate it.
“It is not acceptable that our town no longer has a public-facing police station.
“My message to the Prime Minister is get in your government car, drive to Buckingham Palace, do the decent thing and call a general election.”
The result marks the first Labour victory in the Staffordshire constituency since 2005.
The by-election was held after the resignation of MP Chris Pincher, the former Conservative deputy chief whip.
The Conservatives also suffered a heavy defeat in the Mid Bedfordshire by-election, where Labour overcame their 24,664 majority.
