Conservative Defeats Spell Trouble for PM Rishi Sunak

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak faced a significant setback as the Opposition Labour Party secured victories in two key by-elections, overturning strong Conservative majorities. Labour’s triumph in the House of Commons seats of Kingswood and Wellingborough underscored challenges to Sunak’s leadership ahead of the upcoming general election.

The defeats mark the 9th and 10th by-election losses for the Conservative government since the 2019 U.K. general election, highlighting growing discontent with the ruling party’s policies. Additionally, the emergence of the far-right Reform UK, ahead of traditional parties like the Liberal Democrats and Green Party, signals deepening divisions within the electorate on contentious issues like migration.