Tory leader Oliver Dowden resigns after by-election defeats in Wakefield and Tiverton & Honiton

The Wakefield and Tiverton and Honiton tournaments were sparked by the resignation of disgraced Tories. The by-election gave voters a chance to cast their vote on the prime minister just weeks after 41% of his own MPs voted against him.

Conservative Party leader Oliver Dowden has resigned after the party suffered two painful by-election defeats this morning.

In Tiverton and Honiton, the Liberal Democrats toppled a 24,000 Tory majority to win while Labor recaptured Wakefield.

The electoral campaign sparked by the disgraced Tories gave voters a chance to cast their vote on the Prime Minister just weeks after 41% of his own MPs voted against him.

In his letter of resignation to the Prime Minister, Mr Dowden said: “Yesterday’s general elections are the latest in a series of very poor results for our party,” Mr Dowden wrote in a letter to the Prime Minister.

“Our supporters are shocked and disappointed by recent events and I share their feelings.

“We cannot continue as usual. Someone has to take responsibility and I have come to the conclusion that in the circumstances it would not be right to remain in office.”

It comes weeks after Mr Dowden boasted about backing Boris Johnson on his humiliating no-confidence vote.

This is a groundbreaking story.