Embarrassment for Labour as council seat snatched by independent candidate in flooded town
LABOUR has felt the fallout of its botched reshuffle after it suffered an electoral blow at a council by-election in the flooded city of Carlisle.
Jeremy Corbyn suffered an electoral blow in Carlisle just weeks after visiting the flooded town
An independent candidate embarrassed the party after he snatched the seat at the Botcherby be-election for Carlisle City Council.
The setback comes just weeks after Jeremy Corbyn visited the flooded city to offer his support to stricken residents.
Jeremy Corbyn made visits over Christmas and New Year to stricken parts of the UK
But Twitter users pinned the defeat on the Labour leader’s mishandled reshuffle which has dominated headlines.
Mark Hemingway warned the day before the vote: “Botcherby by-election tomorrow - the whole reshuffle farce may have cost Labour Carlisle valuable votes.”
Another wrote: “We’re witnessing the death of Labour. The public have made up their minds about Jeremy Corbyn as seen tonight in Carlisle election!”
Carlisle United's stadium became the focus of attention last month after it was completely submerged
Parties reported a low turnout at the Botcherby vote: Independent 381, Labour 250, Conservative 115.
Exact confirmation from the council is expected later.