UK Conservatives hold Parliament seat by reduced margin
ABC News
Britain’s governing Conservative Party has held onto a seat in Parliament in a special election triggered by a lawmaker’s death
LONDON -- Britain’s governing Conservative Party has held onto a seat in Parliament in a special election triggered by a lawmaker’s death. But the party saw its margin of victory slashed after weeks of headlines about politicians’ ethics breaches and an uncertain coronavirus picture.
Conservative candidate Louie French was elected to the House of Commons for the district of Old Bexley and Sidcup, results showed Friday. He took 51.5% of votes cast, down from the 64.5% share the Tories won during the 2019 election. The Labour Party came second and increased its vote share by from 23.5% to 31%.
Turnout for Thursday's vote was 34%, about half the level that would be expected in a national election.
The election for the constituency in southeast London was triggered by the death from cancer of former Cabinet minister James Brokenshire in October at the age of 53.
