'Deluded' Conservative MP claims huge double by-election defeat shows voters back the Tories

• The Conservative Party has lost two previously safe seats to Labour in a 'political earthquake'

• Tory MP Andrew Bowie claimed the results showed voters still supported his party

• Labour won by-elections in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire in a huge blow to Rishi Sunak

A Conservative MP has been accused of "terrifying levels of delusion" for insisting that Friday's huge double by-election defeat is an indication that voters are still supporting the Tories.

Labour overturned mammoth Tory majorities to take by-election victories in Tamworth and Mid Bedfordshire on Friday morning, with leader Sir Keir Starmer claiming the party was “redrawing the political map”.

In Tamworth, where the Conservatives were defending a 19,634 majority, Labour’s Sarah Edwards defeated Conservative Andrew Cooper by 1,316 votes, a 23.9% swing, the second-highest ever by-election switch to Labour.

Half an hour later, Mid Bedfordshire also went to Labour, with Alistair Strathern winning a majority of 1,192 over his Tory rival Festus Akinbusoye, with a swing of 20.5%, in the largest majority overturned by Labour at a by-election since 1945.

The Tories had held Mid Bedfordshire since 1931, with a 24,664 Conservative majority in 2019.

But in an interview with Sam Coates on Sky News, junior energy minister Andrew Bowie, the Tory MP for West Aberdeenshire and Kincardine attempted to play down Labour's success.

"There's no groundswell of support for the Labour Party and what that tells me is that people are supportive of what we're doing but they just were not prepared to come out and vote for us," he said.

"Throughout history, by-elections have been an opportunity for people to cast a protest vote or to stay at home and not engage in the process. I'm quite sure that's what happened today.

"We're determined to keep our focus, to deliver for the British people and deliver on the prime minister's five priorities.

Recommended reading

• Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth results - the key statistics and historical benchmarks (PA Media)

• What will happen next for Rishi Sunak after by-elections defeat? (Sky News)

• Labour ‘redraw political map’ with double by-election blow to Rishi Sunak (PA Media)

"Obviously, there's always room for improvement, but we are absolutely determined we are on the right course, we're delivering for the British people and people are going to start feeling that very soon."

Bowie was challenged by Coates, who asked the MP: "So the lesson that you take from those two gigantic by-election defeats is not that you need to change anything?"

Bowie was criticised on X, formerly known as Twitter, for his comments.

Author and broadcaster Carol Vorderman wrote: "Tory MP Andrew Bowie on Sky News embarrassingly says it shows 'no enthusiasm for Keir Starmer' - 'people are supportive of what we (Tories) are doing'

"Excuse me while I chortle very loudly. Astonishing Tory state of self-denial."

Journalist Nick Tyrone posted: "Terrifying levels of delusion here from Tory MP Andrew Bowie.

"I do have to give him credit for one thing, though: the 'There’s always room for improvement' line did make me laugh out loud, genuine comedy gold."

Bowie was also criticised by a member of the Scottish National Party for not being back in his constituency while the country battles against flooding caused by Storm Babet.

David Birkett, convener of the Peterhead branch of the SNP, said on X: "Whilst his constituents get battered by storm Babet, Andrew Bowie reckons the best use of his time is to be on telly trying to gaslight the populace when he could (and should) be here assisting his people."

Yahoo News UK has approached the SNP for comment.

How bad is it for Rishi Sunak?

The loss of two previously safe Conservative seats is a huge blow for Prime Minister Rishi Sunak with a potential general election looming sometime next year.

Political scientist and elections expert Professor Sir John Curtice said the Conservatives are “staring defeat in the face” in the general election unless there is a dramatic turnaround.

He said the double defeat meant "extremely bad news" for the Tories.

Prof Curtice told the BBC: “No government has hitherto lost to the principal opposition party in a by-election a seat as safe as Tamworth.”

He added that the Tories “may get caught in a pincer movement between some of their former Leave voters wandering off to Labour but others going off to Reform UK”.

Reform secured 1,487 votes in Mid Bedfordshire and 1,373 in Tamworth – in both instances more than Labour’s majority over the Conservatives.

Prof Curtice said: “This isn’t destiny, but it is a pointer and it is a pointer that, unless the Conservatives can fairly dramatically and fairly radically turn things around, then they are in truth staring defeat in the face in 12 months’ time.”

Watch: Labour 'redraw political map' with double by-election blow to Rishi Sunak