A by-election Starmer wouldn’t want

HAVING just got through two painful by-election losses that led to his Party Chairman resigning, the last thing Boris Johnson wants is another one round the corner.

He isn’t the only one – last night Labour sources said the party’s leadership is also ‘desperate’ to avoid a by-election in Chris Pincher’s seat, because it would bring too many comparisons between Sir Keir Starmer and

Sir Tony Blair. Mr Pincher’s Tamworth constituency, in its previous incarnation of South East Staffordshire, was a key byelection victory for then-Labour leader Sir Tony in 1996, and part of the winning momentum that led to his 1997 landslide.

The seat swung to Labour after the incumbent Conservative MP – and party whip – David Lightbown died of a heart attack, triggering the poll. A party source involved in the 1996 campaign recalled Sir Tony visited the constituency repeatedly in the run-up to the election. The source said: ‘People will ask: “Blair won it, can Keir?” The Labour leader’s office is desperate to avoid it.’

Despite this, London Mayor

Sadiq Khan – widely tipped as a future leadership contender if Sir Keir steps down – yesterday called for a by-election in the seat.

Mr Khan said of Mr Pincher: ‘I don’t think it’s appropriate for someone like him to be a Member of Parliament. I think the right thing to do is for him to resign and for there to be a by-election.’

Mr Pincher has represented the seat since 2010 and has a majority of almost 20,000. Labour came second in the 2019 Election, with 24 per cent of the vote.

Tory high command has already begun preparations for a possible by-election there. After last month’s loss in Tiverton and Honiton, and the growing threat of a Labour-Liberal Democrat pact, MPs fear there is no such thing as a safe Tory seat.