Labour Wins West Midlands Mayor Election In Another Huge Blow For Rishi Sunak

  (The Huffington Post) : Labour's victorious candidate Richard Parker arrives as votes are counted ahead of the declaration for West Midlands Mayor. Labour has dramatically won the West Midlands mayoral contest in another stunning blow for Rishi Sunak. Richard Parker narrowly defeated Tory incumbent Andy Street following a nail-biting count which went right down to the wire. In the end, he came from behind to win by just 1,508 votes following the final count in the borough of Sandwell. Street was going for a third term in office and did his best to distance himself from both the national Conservative Party and the prime minister throughout the campaign. But he was unable to defy the national swing against the Conservatives, which has seen the party lose nearly 500 councillors and a raft of Tory-run councils. On Friday night, senior Labour sources feared Keir Starmer’s stance on the Middle East had cost them the West Midlands mayoralty as disenchanted supporters backed the pro-Gaza independent candidate Akhmed Yakoob. Votes being counted ahead of the declaration for West Midlands Mayor. But Parker’s victory, in an area containing many vital parliamentary constituencies, will increase Labour confidence that their leader is heading for No.10. Street’s defeat means Lord Houchen of High Leven’s re-election as Tees Valley mayor is the only bright spot for the Conservatives in a damaging set of local elections. The most recent Labour mayoral victories were announced earlier today, with Tracy Brabin (West Yorkshire), Oliver Coppard (South Yorkshire), Steve Rotheram (Liverpool) and Andy Burnham ..