Planning reforms and HS2 blamed for shock Tory by-election defeat

By Tom Lowe2021-06-18T09:15:00

Backbench pressure certain to grow after Liberal Democrats sweep to victory in Chesham and Amersham with huge 25% swing

HS2 and the government’s proposed planning reforms have been blamed for last night’s shock by-election defeat for the Conservatives in one of their heartland seats.

Sarah Green, the Liberal Democrats candidate, overturned a Tory majority of 16,000 in Buckinghamshire’s Chesham and Amersham constituency with a huge 25% swing, the 14th biggest ever seen in a by-election. The seat, which has been held by Conservatives since its creation in 1974, was contested after the death of former incumbent Cheryl Gillan in April.

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