The new Labour MP for Tamworth has called on Rishi Sunak to “do the decent thing and call a general election” following her victory.
Sarah Edwards overturned a Conservative majority of more than 19,600 to secure the first Labour victory in the Staffordshire constituency since 2005.
She replaces the disgraced former MP Chris Pincher, who stood down after being found to have drunkenly groped two men last year.
Her Conservative opponent, Andrew Cooper, was ushered out of a side door of Rawlett School in Tamworth seconds after his defeat was confirmed, with Tory staff blocking the exit as he did so, something Ms Edwards described as “disappointing”.
In Tamworth, Conservative candidate Andrew Cooper rushed off stage and out the nearest fire exit just as Labour’s Sarah Edwards began her victory speech pic.twitter.com/fR7f4x4aPT
In her speech after her victory was confirmed, Ms Edwards 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.
“The people of Tamworth have made it clear, it’s time for change.”
Labour’s victory in Tamworth represented a 23.9% vote swing, the party’s third swing this year that was higher than 20%, after Rutherglen and Selby.
The result also marks the second highest ever swing to Labour, which Ms Edwards described as “quite astonishing”.
Addressing the 11,719 constituents who voted for her, she said: “I know a lot of you have voted Labour for the first time, and I will not let you down.”
“Only Keir Starmer’s Labour Party has the vision and ideas to make life better for everybody in our country.
“Change is the question at the next general election, and the answer is Labour.
“Keir Starmer and Labour offer a decade of national renewal, after 13 years of national decline.
“I will be a visible and approachable Member of Parliament, who delivers on our town’s priorities.
“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.”
Ms Edwards’s victory was coupled with a Labour win in Mid Bedfordshire, which also saw a huge Tory majority overturned.
She said she would “get to work straight away” to support her new constituents, mentioning in her speech the need to support Tamworth’s town centre and its public services.
Commenting on what her victory meant for the wider country, she said: “I think it sets a clear tone.
“This is about looking forward to the general election and thinking about the things that people are caring about and that is that they want a positive vision.
“They want funding for their NHS services, they want to know that police are on the ground and that the cost of living crisis is going to be dealt with, and the Labour government is going to do that.
“We should take that positive flag that we’re flying here and that sends a great message out to the rest of the country.”
