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7 May 2021

Why did Labour do so badly in the Hartlepool by-election?

The Tories benefited from a vaccine bounce but Keir Starmer bungled the choices that were his to make.  

By Stephen Bush

Keir Starmer visits Seaton Carew seafront on 1 May ahead of this week's local elections. (Photo By Ian Forsyth/Getty Images)

The Conservatives have won the Hartlepool by-election, while counting is ongoing in local elections across England. (Counting in the devolved elections will begin from noon onwards.) 

The scores on the door:

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