It was billed as the coldest polling day, possibly ever - but for Labour it ended with the warm glow of hope turning into expectation. Yes, the party was always expected to win the Stretford and Urmston by-election handsomely.
Kate Green had secured 60.3% of the vote for Labour in the 2019 General Election - a night that didn't exactly go to plan for the party - while a backdrop of chaos in Westminster and a cost of living crisis has seen the Conservatives' popularity plummet in national polling. But the by-election ended with Labour widening its winning margin over the Tories - albeit with a massively reduced turnout on a bitterly cold winter's day.
Andrew Western was named Stretford and Urmston's new MP at 3am this morning (December 16), in an announcement met with huge cheers from giddy party members gathered in the warmth of a suite at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium. With 69.4% of the vote, the party's excitement was justified.
