Labor wins Chester by-election in Prime Minister Rishi Sunak's first election defeat

Labour's Samantha Dixon won the Chester City by-election following the resignation of Christian Matheson and handed Rishi Sunak the first job defeat of Prime Minister

Labor's Samantha Dixon makes a speech after winning the Chester by-election (

Image: PA)

Labour won the Chester City by-election, retaining the seat and defeating Rishi Sunak in his first electoral test as Prime Minister.

New MP Samantha Dixon said voters had sent a strong message that they thought 'it's Labour's turn'.

She again won the Labor Party seat with a majority of 10,974 votes, after the contest was triggered by the resignation of Labor MP Christian Matheson, who resigned his seat in the House of Commons after complaints of "serious sexual misconduct" have been confirmed by a parliamentary watchdog.

Mr. Matheson, who denied the allegations, faced a four-week suspension and was asked to resign by the Labor Party before quitting.

Ms Dixon beat Conservative candidate and NHS nurse Liz Wardlaw, handing the Tories a defeat in Westminster's first by-election since the forced resignation of Boris Johnson and the market chaos that ended the short stint of Liz Truss at number 10.

Election officials confirmed earlier that voter turnout was 41.2%, with a total of 28,541 votes cast in the December poll.

Samantha Dixon said voters sent a strong message "it's Labour's turn" (

Picture:

Getty Images)

Labour was expected to hold the seat, having won it in 2019 for the third consecutive time with a majority of 6,164 votes.

Speaking after the result, Ms Dixon said: 'I think I got a very strong message from the voters of Chester that they want the Tory cost of living crisis to be resolved immediately.

"I don't think they think the Tories have the answers, I think they think it's Labor's turn now."

She described the city of Chester as an "indicator of consti...