British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said that defeats for his Conservatives in two parliamentary by-elections show the party has work to do ahead of a general election expected later this year.
"We look at the results, very low turnout, shows that we've got work to do, to show people that we are delivering on their priorities, and that's what I'm absolutely determined to do," Mr Sunak said.
The Conservatives lost the seats in Northamptonshire and Gloucestershire to the Labour Party which secured its second largest by-election swing away from the Tories in one of of the contests.
Mr Sunak said the circumstances surrounding the by-elections were "particularly challenging" but claimed that turnout of below 40% in both constituencies means there "isn't a huge amount of enthusiasm" for Labour.
"People want change and are ready to put their faith in a changed Labour Party to deliver it," its leader Keir Starmer said as he hailed the "fantastic results".
In power since 2010, the Conservatives are widely tipped by pollsters to lose the general election that Mr Sunak has said will be held in the second half of the year.
Labour overturned majorities of 11,220 and 18,540, delivering the government's ninth and tenth by-election defeats of this parliament and securing its second largest swing from the Conservatives.
Gen Kitchen secured Wellingborough with 45.8% of the vote, while Damien Egan won Kingswood with 44.9%.
The results provide Labour with a boost after a U-turn on the party's pledge to spend £28 billion on green projects and an anti-semitism row that forced it to drop its candidate for another by-election in Rochdale in two weeks' time.
The defeats pile more pressure on Mr Sunak following the news that the UK entered a recession at the end of 2023.
Meanwhile, Reform UK scored its best by-election results after targeting disgruntled voters on the right, securing more than 10% of the vote for the first time in a by-election.
Its deputy leader Ben Habib won 13% of the vote in Wellingborough, while Rupert Lowe secured 10% in Kingswood.
It was a disappointing night for the Liberal Democrats who slipped into fourth place in both constituencies behind Reform UK.
The by-elections were held after a Conservative Party MP quit and another faced a recall petition for misconduct.
Former Wellingborough Tory MP Peter Bone was suspended from parliament after an inquiry found he had subjected a staff member to bullying and sexual misconduct.
Mr Bone's partner Helen Harrison was controversially selected as his replacement candidate in the seat, held by the party since 2005.
The vote in Kingswood was triggered by Chris Skidmore's resignation as an MP in protest at Mr Sunak's plans to boost North Sea oil and gas drilling.
In Wellingborough, Ms Kitchen, who cut short her honeymoon to campaign in the by-election, saw a Conservative majority of more than 18,000 turn into a Labour majority of 6,436.
The swing of 28.5% is the largest from the Tories to Labour since the 1994 Dudley West by-election, where a 29.1% swing prompted Tony Blair's landslide victory three years later.
Ms Kitchen said: "The people of Wellingborough have spoken for Britain. This is a stunning victory for the Labour Party and must send a message from Northamptonshire to Downing Street."
In Kingswood, Mr Egan defeated Conservative Sam Bromiley, securing 11,176 votes and a majority of 2,501.
In his victory speech, Mr Egan thanked the activists that helped him win and the people of Kingswood for putting their trust in him.
He said: "It's a trust that I promise to repay, to show you that politics can be different and it can make difference.
The defeated Conservative candidate left the count as soon as Mr Egan had finished speaking, declining to comment to reporters.
Tories worried about Reform UK party gaining momentum
The results highlight the struggle that Mr Sunak faces if he is to secure a fifth consecutive term in power for the Conservatives.
The party has lost a string of traditionally safe seats to Labour and the Liberal Democrats since winning a landslide at the last general election in 2019.
Mr Starmer and his Labour Party have enjoyed double-digit leads over the Tories in most opinion polls throughout Mr Sunak's 15-month tenure as prime minister.
He replaced Liz Truss, who was ousted after her tax-cutting economic agenda shocked markets and lost support.
The Conservatives' popularity has plummeted as the UK has endured the worst cost-of-living crisis in decades since the Covid-19 pandemic.
It have also been turned off by factional infighting and chaotic rule that have led to three prime ministers since autumn 2022.
A record 21 by-elections have been held since 2019, many as a result of misconduct committed by Tory MPs.
Additional reporting John Kilraine, PA, AFP
