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The Conservatives appear to be on track to win the by-election in Old Bexley and Sidcup, but just a third of those eligible to vote did so.
Despite a tumultuous few weeks for Boris Johnson’s administration, the Conservatives aim to keep the seat, which was previously held by former Cabinet member James Brokenshire until his death in October.
The competition is underway, following negative reports regarding sleaze, charges that lockdown limits in No 10 were violated, and the appearance of the Omicron coronavirus subtype.
Local Tory councillor Louie French is the betting favourite to win the election, with Labour admitting they were not expecting an upset.
At the 2019 general election, Mr Brokenshire won 64.5 percent of the vote in the south-east London constituency with a majority of about 19,000 votes.
During the by-election campaign, a number of key Conservatives, including the Prime Minister, visited the district, with Transport Secretary Grant Shapps among the MPs urging people to vote on Thursday.
However, the by-election fight failed to inspire the public in the constituency, with just 34% of eligible voters casting ballots (21,788 votes).
On polling day, shadow chancellor Rachel Reeves and her sister, shadow solicitor general Ellie, were among those knocking on doors for candidate Daniel Francis in Old Bexley and Sidcup.
With 23.5 percent of the vote in 2019, Labour will try to cut into the Conservative vote share.
“This has always been a solid Tory seat, and we don’t expect that to change today,” Ellie Reeves said after the polls closed.
“However, people are growing tired of the Prime Minister’s failed promises – on tax hikes, social care, and NHS waiting lists, to name a few. Boris Johnson’s patience is running out.
If Labour is to be seen as a credible alternative government, senior Tory Justin Tomlinson believes the party should be running the Conservatives “very, very close” in seats like Old Bexley and Sidcup, but “that is not the sensation we were receiving on the doorsteps over this month.” He went on to say that the Conservatives would win “over 40%, mid-forties” of the vote. The Lib Dems’ Simone Reynolds, the Green Party’s Jonathan Rooks, and the Reform Party’s Richard Tice are among the other contenders.
Since its formation in 1983, and in prior incarnations since the 1950s, the constituency has been controlled by the Conservatives, with former Prime Minister Edward Heath among those who have represented it.
