Latest updates: byelection was first test at the ballot box since Rishi Sunak became prime minister
Good morning
The City of Chester has woken up to its new representative after re-electing Labour, with candidate Samantha Dixon winning by a majority of 10,974 in a brutal first electoral test for Rishi Sunak.
Just before 2am this morning it was announced that Labour received 17,309 votes with 61.22% of the vote share, its highest majority and share of the vote ever in the seat. Conversely, the Conservatives received just 6,335 votes and a 22.4% vote share, their worst result in the constituency since 1832. The Liberal Democrats came a distant third on 2,368 votes.
Dixon said the vote reflected the national mood: “I think that it’s time now for a general election and I think Labour will win as decisively as I have done today.”
