LONDON Britain’s ruling Conservatives won a parliamentary by-election in the north-west English region of Copeland on Friday, taking control of a once safe seat held by the opposition Labour Party and the first such gain by a ruling party since 1982.
The Conservatives, who had been bookmakers favourites ahead of the vote, won by a margin of more than 2,000 votes from Labour.
The vote, which was triggered by the resignation of the incumbent lawmaker, underscores the difficulties Labour faces in the north of England following last year’s vote to leave the European Union, at which the party’s pro-EU stance alienated many of its Eurosceptic working class voters.
(Reporting by William James; editing by Michael Holden)
