It was a bleak night for Labour across the country as they lost a second crucial by-election, this time to the Liberal Democrats.
While all the headlines are being directed to Green Party candidate Hannah Spencer defeating Labour in Gorton & Denton, on the south coast, the Lib Dems managed to hold on to a seat on Southampton City Council.
Chris Shank saw off competition from Reform and Labour to hold onto the Shirley ward.
GB News has taken a look at a bleak night for Labour as pressure mounts on the Prime Minister to resign.
Shirley (Southampton City)
A by-election in the Shirley ward on Southampton City Council was held by Chris Shank from Sir Ed Davey’s Liberal Democrats.
The by-election was called after former councillor George Percival resigned 15 months after being elected, citing professional reasons and relocation for work.
Mr Shank won the election with 975 votes, with James Clark from Labour coming in second on 954.
Reform UK’s Paul Chance came in third with 681 votes with Joanne Clements from the Greens in fourth on 539.
In sixth was Andy Palmer from the Local Conservatives on 288 votes with Independent candidate Andrew Douglas Pope behind on 122 votes.
Coming in last was David Cowley from Independent Trade Unionist and Socialist Candidate on 16 votes.
Councillor Shank said: “I’m absolutely thrilled and incredibly grateful for the people of Shirley who have put their trust in me.
“It really goes to show in Shirley it is very much Labour-Lib Dem and I’m really thrilled to get started.”
“I had an excellent team around me, we listened to the residents of Shirley and it really made the difference in the end.”
Turnout for the by-election was 35 per cent.
Sir Keir Starmer’s party still holds a majority on the city council with 31 of the 51 seats with the Lib Dems remaining the third largest party on the council.
Labour’s Satvir Kaur won the Southampton Test parliamentary seat in 2024, succeeding from former Shadow Minister for Energy and Climate Change Alan Whitehead.
In 2024, Ms Kaur beat Tory candidate Ben Burcombe-Filer with a majority of 9,333.
Chis Shank (left) won the ward for Sir Ed Davey’s party
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SOUTHAMPTON LIBERAL DEMOCRATS
This comes after a devastating blow for Labour in the Gorton and Denton parliamentary by-election.
The Green Party emerged victorious with former plumber Hannah Spencer seeing off competition from Reform UK’s Matt Goodwin and Labour’s Angeliki Stogia to become the fifth Green Party MP in the Commons.
In her victory speech, Ms Spencer said: “Working hard used to get you something. It got you a house, a nice life, holidays, it got you somewhere. But now working hard, what does that get you?
“Because talk to anyone here and they will tell you, the people work hard but can’t put food on the table, can’t get their kids school uniforms, can’t put their heating on, can’t live off the pension they worked hard to save for, can’t even begin to dream about ever having a holiday, ever.
“Because life has changed. Instead of working for a nice life, we’re working to line the pockets of billionaires. We are being bled dry.
“I don’t think it’s extreme or radical to think working hard should get you a nice life. And I don’t think that if you’re not able to work that you should still have a nice life. I think that absolutely everybody should get a nice life.”
