The Liberal Democrats have achieved a stunning by-election victory in Chesham and Amersham, overturning a Conservative majority of more than 16,000. Candidate Sarah Green won by 8,028 votes, with the Green Party in third place and Labour suffering its worst ever by-election result, securing just 622 votes.
Leader Sir Ed Davey celebrated by knocking over a wall of blue bricks, declaring that his party is now the “main threat” to the Conservatives in many areas. He said people in the constituency felt ignored and taken for granted, and that the Liberal Democrats had listened. Ms Green said the voice of Chesham and Amersham was unmistakable, adding: “We will be heard and this government will listen.”
The result was driven by local opposition to HS2 and the government’s planning reforms, which could see more homes built in rural areas. Prime Minister Boris Johnson described the defeat as “disappointing”, but insisted the government was focused on “uniting and levelling up”. Conservative candidate Peter Fleet warned against reading too much into the result, arguing it was caused by “very local circumstances”.
Polling expert Sir John Curtice said in Remain-voting middle class seats in southern England, the Conservative coalition has been weakened by Brexit, and the Liberal Democrats are best placed to profit. The by-election was triggered by the death of former Welsh Secretary Dame Cheryl Gillan, who had held the seat since 1992.
