In fact, Labour would probably have already lost the Hartlepool seat in the 2019 general election had the Brexit Party, then led by Nigel Farage, not put up a candidate to run there and won more than 10,000 votes, pulling pro-Brexit voters away from the Conservatives. The Labour Party lawmaker elected in Hartlepool then, Mike Hill, resigned his seat in Parliament in March because he faces an employment tribunal relating to sexual-harassment accusations, which he denies. Sitting governments in Britain very rarely win parliamentary by-elections because voters often use them to register discontent with their leaders. The pandemic, and the focus on the vaccine drive, has made it hard for the Labour leader to raise his profile, but critics say he lacks charisma and a compelling political vision. Among those who have represented the seat are Peter Mandelson, a close ally of the former prime minister, Tony Blair.

Source: New York Times May 07, 2021 06:10 UTC