Polls close in City of Chester for Rishi Sunak's first electoral test

The polls person closed successful the City of Chester by-election, wherever voters person been electing a caller MP successful Rishi Sunak's archetypal electoral trial since becoming PM.

The result, expected successful the aboriginal hours of Friday morning, volition amusement however the main parties basal pursuing months of governmental turmoil.

The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Christian Matheson.

The Labour MP discontinue aft Parliament's watchdog recommended helium beryllium suspended for "serious intersexual misconduct".

Although Labour is expected to clasp the seat, which it won successful 2019 by a bulk of 6,164, determination volition beryllium a absorption connected the ballot stock of the parties.

In the past wide election, the Conservatives came 2nd successful Chester winning 38.3% of the vote, portion Labour secured 49.6%.

The Liberal Democrats came 3rd with 6.8% of the vote.

The Conservatives person performed severely successful caller by-elections, losing Wakefield to Labour and the historically harmless Tory spot of Tiverton and Honiton to the Liberal Democrats.

Those losses accrued governmental unit connected the then-Prime Minister Boris Johnson who aboriginal resigned from the role.

Thursday's by-election is the archetypal to instrumentality spot since Mr Johnson discontinue and his successor Liz Truss caused marketplace turbulence with her mini-Budget.

Mr Sunak replaced Ms Truss arsenic premier curate past period and helium volition beryllium hoping the results connection immoderate optimism for his party, adjacent if they are improbable to triumph the seat.

Polls opened crossed the City of Chester constituency astatine 07:00 GMT and closed astatine 22:00.

Nine candidates person enactment themselves guardant to go the area's caller MP.

During her campaign, Labour's Sam Dixon pledged to halt earthy sewage being dumped into the River Dee and said she would combat for section buying centre Chester's Row to get satellite practice status.

Conservative Liz Wardlaw promised to combat for backing for the Countess of Chester Hospital and improved obstruction connections to London, Manchester and North Wales.

Liberal Democrat campaigner Rob Herd besides vowed to support the River Dee and said helium would reason fracking successful the area.