Voters have welcomed Boris Johnson's disastrous by-election performance after the Tories lost two crucial seats.
Labour regained Wakefield from Mr Johnson's party in a Red Wall boost for Keir Starmer, while the Liberal Democrats overturned a 24,000 Conservative majority to take Tiverton and Honiton in the Tories' southern heartlands.
Voters on the streets of the Devon town of Tiverton welcomed the Tories’ bombshell defeat.
Self-declared “floating voter” Ann Stone, 80, a retired accounts wages clerk, said: “I haven’t got a lot of faith in any of them but I think the best candidate got in.
“We’ve lived in Tiverton all our lives and have never seen such canvassing as the Lib Dems did.
“We had Liberals nearly every day, even the morning of the election.
“But do I think there’s going to be a big change because we have gone Lib Dem? No.
“Boris made mistakes with Covid but it was unknown territory and I think he did the best he could - but as far as the parties, it was a big mistake and he should have known better.”
Retired legal support worker Janet McKnight, 72, said: “It was inevitable the Conservatives would lose, I think, because of Boris - not because of events happening with the economy, because that’s global.
“But I just think he should go. I never was keen on him anyway.”
Kevin Taylor, 63, a part-time contracts manager, said: “I thought it was a good result - we want Boris out, don’t we?
“He’s got to go because of lying generally. How can you take that man seriously?”
Dave Gunney, 81, a retired financial director, said: “It’s a brilliant result, I think the public have lost confidence with this Government, they are fed up with Boris - everything from Brexit, proroguing Parliament, Partyagte - you name it.
“I voted Liberal this time but I’ve voted Tory before.
“I felt let down by the party, the Government because it’s not the party I grew up with.
“If the Tories can have the courage - they are like rabbits in the headlights at the minute - and elect someone that looks like a PM, speaks like a PM and smells like a PM- someone like the previous Health Minister ( Jeremy Hunt ) - then that would be a different thing.”
Unemployed Jamie Frost, 39, said: “I voted for the Lib Dems so I’m very happy this morning.
“It’s a great result, a kick in the teeth for the Conservatives, considering we have always been Conservative down here.
“It’s just shows that people aren’t standing for the same issues every time.
“I’ve got nothing against Boris Johnson on the whole, I really haven’t - he has been in a few positions, such as the pandemic, which are unheard of.
“Every country made mistakes but it was owning up to those mistakes that was important, not just passing it off as he did.”
Kayleigh Hunter, 21, a who works in Greggs bakery, said: “Boris shouldn’t stay as Prime Minister - everyone seems to think that he isn’t the right person to be in charge of everything.
“I would probably like to see the Lib Dems take over, they do quite a lot around Tiverton.”
The Lib Dems’ unveiled their latest by-election victory stunt - claiming “It’s time to show Boris the door”.
Party leader Sir Ed Davey uncovered a white frame and blue door with the words emblazoned in white.
He poked through the opening, flanked by chief whip Wendy Chamberlain and the party’s newest MP, Richard Foord.
About 100 cheering activists wielding orange “diamond” placards bearing the slogan “Lib Dems winning here” celebrated at the Lowman Green clock tower in Tiverton town centre.
Supporters chanted: “Ed! Ed! Ed!” as the ex-Coalition Cabinet Minister beamed.
Addressing activists, Sir Ed said: “For years, Boris Johnson has told people things will get better. But under his leadership, things only get worse.
"So, let me tell the Prime Minister what the British people expect - they expect our country to be led. And he has shown no leadership, whatsoever."
Over in Wakefield, Labour's Simon Lightwood took back the Red Wall seat from the Tories in a major boost to Keir Starmer.
After he was elected with a majority of 4,925 on a swing of 12.7% from the Tories, Mr Lightwood said: "The next Labour government has been born in this room tonight”.
Asked what the victory would mean for Keir Starmer ’s leadership, he said: “I think it speaks volumes. We are rebuilding the red wall."
Locals have accepted the results but Mr Starmer has work to do to woo voters into backing them for the long-term.
Marion Medley, 67, from Wakefield is a life-long Labour supporter.
She told the Mirror that Mr Lightwood "fully understands" local issues and has worked hard to fight a "clean campaign" that focused on policies.
But Mr Lightwood's hard work could be overshadowed by uncertainty about the Labour leader, she said.
Ms Medley said: "I don't count Simon Lightwood as an outsider, I never did. He has lived and worked extremely hard.
"He fully understands local issues, he completely gets it.
"The problem is Keir doesn't have charisma. I'm glad he does not get personal with his arguments against Boris Johnson at PMQs but we're going to need to see a bit more emotion to understand what he truly stands for."
Bethany Beecroft, 20, comes from a politically active family, who usually vote for the Conservatives but were divided by Boris Johnson.
"Boris Johnson has split my family's ideas in a way. My step-dad fully backed him, even when the Partygate stories came in," she said.
"My mum on the other hand, focuses less on Mr Johnson and more on grassroots conservative campaigns.
"Most people around me vote for the Conservatives because of the work they do for the community. I don't think Labour gets that. But we still accept the vote."
Beaming Keir Starmer could not hide his smile as he urged Boris Johnson’s Conservatives to “get out the way for the sake of the country” on a victory lap in Wakefield.
The Labour leader stretched out his arms and told triumphant candidate Simon Lightwood, "I’m so proud of you, I’m so proud of our Labour Party " on an early-morning visit to the Osset residential area.
Mr Starmer added: “We did it, we turned Wakefield red again. We have given the people of Wakefield a voice back in Parliament.”
He insisted the result “puts us now absolutely on track for a Labour government, which is absolutely coming”.
