Jeremy Corbyn insists Labour is in 'good heart' despite Copeland defeat
The Labour leader strikes a defiant tone, insisting he is not quitting after a humiliating defeat at the hands of the Tories.
Friday 24 February 2017 17:29, UK
Jeremy Corbyn has claimed Labour is in "good heart" despite losing a safe seat to the Tories, in an area held by the party since 1935.
The leader said of Copeland was "very disappointing", but insisted he would not be standing down.
He is facing calls to consider his position after the Tory victory, which is the first gain by a governing party in a parliamentary by-election since 1982.
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But striking a defiant tone, Mr Corbyn said: "I was elected to lead this party. I am proud to lead this party.
"We will continue our campaigning work on the NHS, on social care, on housing."
Mr Corbyn also pointed to Labour retaining Stoke-on-Trent, albeit with a reduced vote share and majority, in the face of a concerted challenge from UKIP leader Paul Nuttall.
Taking questions following a speech in London, he said: "Our party membership is in good heart, it's very large, very strong and we are going to be out again tomorrow and every other day campaigning to get the message across of social justice in Britain."
Visiting Copeland to congratulate the victorious candidate, Tory Prime Minister Theresa May said: "This is an astounding victory for the Conservative Party but also for the people of Copeland.
"Labour have held this seat since the 1930s. A party in Government hasn't won a by-election in a seat held by the opposition for 35 years.
"And what I think we have seen from this victory is that this truly is a government that working for everyone and for every part of the country.
"And that's the message that we bring here to Copeland and that will take across the country."
Earlier, shadow chancellor John McDonnell urged Labour to unite after the loss of Copeland, which he blamed on "unique circumstances" because of the importance of the nuclear industry to its local workforce.
He claimed "disinformation and misinformation" from the Tories about Mr Corbyn's stance on the nuclear issue had undermined support for Labour.
The Conservatives' Trudy Harrison snatched victory in Copeland, taking 13,748 votes to 11,601 for Labour's Gillian Troughton.
In a seat held by former Labour MP Jamie Reed with a 2,500 majority at the 2015 general election, the Conservatives increased their vote share by more than 8%, while Labour's was down nearly 5%.
In Stoke-on-Trent Central, Labour's Gareth Snell won comfortably with 7,853 votes to Mr Nuttall's 5,233.
Although Labour secured a 2,620 majority, its vote share fell by about 2%, while UKIP's went up by the same amount.
Despite his defeat, Mr Nuttall, who was during the campaign, insisted UKIP was "not going anywhere" and that the party's "time would come".