In Tiverton and Honiton the Liberal Democrats overturned a 24,000 Tory majority to win, while Labour reclaimed Wakefield.
Speaking from Kigali, where the prime minister is at a Commonwealth leaders’ summit, Mr Johnson said: “It’s absolutely true we’ve had some tough by-election results, they’ve been, I think, a reflection of a lot of things, but we’ve got to recognise voters are going through a tough time at the moment. We’ve got to recognise there is more we’ve got to do and we certainly will, we will keep going, addressing the concerns of people until we get through this patch.”
Mr Dowden said in a letter of resignation to Mr Johnson that the defeats in Tiverton and Honiton and Wakefield are the “latest in a run of very poor results for our party”.
Live updates
Election was ‘incredibly disappointing’ says Andrea Leadsom
Former Cabinet minister, Andrea Leadsom has said the election results in Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton are “incredibly disappointing” in a tweet.
MP back Boris Johnson despite election defeats
Tory MP for Dudley North, Marco Longhi told the Standard he has “full confidence” in the Prime minister.
He added: “This is undoubtedly a big disappointment. People always expect results, and we have been slow, but also hampered by lockdowns that weren’t in anybody’s manifesto.
“We need to double down on delivering for people and show results on the top priorities people voted for.
“As far as tonight’s results go, we’ve been here before several times when government parties lose heavily in by-elections and then win back at a general election. Delivery is key now.”
Rishi Sunak comments on election loss
Rishi Sunak has said “we all take responsiblity” for the party’s poor election results in a tweet this morning.
Sir John Curtice: Tories in trouble but Keir Starmer still missing crucial spark
Boris Johnson’s party is “in trouble” but Sir Keir Starmer has yet to spark the “crucial ingredient” of enthusiasm for Labour which led to Tony Blair’s 1997 victory, according to one of Britain’s leading elections experts
Sir John Curtice, Professor of Politics at Strathclyde University, stressed that Mr Johnson’s by-election record is the worst since John Major’s goverrment.
He emphasised that this was partly down to Labour and Liberal Democrat voters now “ganging up” to vote tactically to beat Tory candidates.
Many disaffected Conservative voters, he added, were not necessarily though turning to Labour to voice their “protest”.
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Tory MP reiterates no confidence in Boris Johnson
Tory MP, Jesse Norman who withdrew his support of the Prime Minister in June, has taken to social media to retweet his no confidence letter.
He accompanied the tweet with a section of that letter where he claims the party is more likely to lose the next election due to Mr Johnson’s leadership.
MPs must discuss long-term position of the Prime Minister, says former MP Neil Parish
The former MP for Tiverton and Honiton – who resigned after watching porn in the Commons – told Radio Devon: “What is becoming increasingly necessary for the party and the MPs to discuss what is the long term position of the prime minister. The public are concerned.
“You cannot ignore people. It was a very safe seat. I’m afraid at the moment there is too much distraction and we are not getting on with the job.
“We are all expendable. That is the issue, is Boris a winner or isn’t he? That will be the issue for MPs going forward.
“He can make that decision and he alone will make that decision. You cannot ignore people and you ask them their verdict – and it’s clear their verdict this morning and it is for the PM to look at it very seriously.”
Boris Johnson will plough on, says David Gauke
In a tweet this morning, the former Justice Secretary claimed the Prime Minister will “plough on” despite the two “terrible” election losses.
He did add, however, that moves by senior ministers may change the Prime Minister’s standing in the party.
Patel continues defence of party following double-election defeat
Speaking to Times Radio, the Home Secretary said the loss of Oliver Dowden was a “loss” for the Government.
Refelecting on the Government’s position, she added: “What I would say is we have gone through very publicly a very difficult period. It’s important that we reflect on these results.
“We fought these against a difficult and challenging backdrop.”
Conservatives must have ‘moment of reflection’ following results, says Priti Patel
Priti Patel said it is “important and right” the Conservatives have a “moment of reflection” following the by-election results.
“It’s right that we listen to the voters from both of those constituencies, it’s right that we carry on with our service to them, but also recognise the issues that they themselves are raising and have raised on the doorstep, I went to both by-elections too, and we get on with the job,” the home secretary told LBC.
Asked if she thought there would be more resignations, after Oliver Dowden stood down as Tory Party chairman, she said: “I don’t, because, as I’ve said, you know, to govern is hard, and to govern we make choices and decisions, and we are working night and day, I can give you that assurance… focusing on these big issues.”
Sir Keir Starmer hails ‘historic’ by-election result
Sir Keir Starmer said the win in Wakefield was a “huge result for the Labour Party”.
He told reporters in Ossett: “This puts us now absolutely on track for a Labour government, which is absolutely coming.”
Sir Keir Starmer and Simon Lightwood
/ PASaying that 12.69 per cent was a “significant” swing towards Labour, Sir Keir said: “That tells you that the next government is going to be a Labour government, and the sooner the better – because the country voted yesterday in both by-elections, no confidence in this out-of-touch, out-of-ideas Government.
“This is a historic by-election as far as we’re concerned.”
