Ashley Dalton's striking red suit and late arrival encapsulated Labour's confidence as the last few votes were counted.
Other candidates had been milling around Burscough Racquet & Fitness Club for hours, but Ms Dalton walked into West Lancashire's by-election count just after 1am on Friday (February 10). Within an hour, she was named the constituency's new MP.
It was a comprehensive victory. Labour won 14,068 votes - a 62.3% share, which was a 10% swing from the general election in 2019.
