The Liberal Democrats have pulled off a bombshell victory in the Tiverton and Honiton by-election this morning - piling fresh pressure on Boris Johnson ’s leadership.
Lib Dem candidate Richard Foord overturned a 24,239 majority in the Devon constituency - a Conservative heartland for a century - beating his Tory opponent Helen Hurford, a former headmistress.
Foord won 22,537 votes, which was 52.91% of the poll, compared to Tory candidate Helen Hurford's 16,393 votes, representing 38.49%.
After securing victory, Mr Foord said it was an "historic result" which has "sent a shockwave through British politics".
He told supporters the people of Tiverton and Honiton had "spoken for Britain and said enough was enough".
He said: "They have sent a loud and clear message - it's time for Boris Johnson to go, and go now.
"Every day that Boris Johnson clings to office he brings further shame."
Addressing Conservative MPs who hold the PM's fate in their hands, he warned: "The Liberal Democrats are coming."
He told Conservatives: "It's time to do what's right for our country - you know in your hearts that your leader isn't the person to lead this great nation into the future."
Earlier, while votes were still being counted, the Lib Dems declared that ex-Army Major Mr Foord, 44, had won - delivering a majority for Sir Ed Davey’s party.
An hour before the result was announced, a party spokesman said: “This is looking like a clear win.
“The people of Tiverton and Honiton have spoken up for the country.
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“This is an historic victory for the Liberal Democrats and a devastating blow for those Conservative MPs who continue to prop up Boris Johnson."
It is the biggest majority overcome in any by-election.
Turnout was 52.3% with 42,707 votes cast.
Sir Ed is expected to visit the constituency later today.
As hopes grew in the early hours of a Lib Dem triumph, he tweeted: “Looks like I’m going to need a bigger hammer” - a reference to his publicity stunt when he used a hammer to demolish a “blue wall” of plastic bricks when his party won a previous by-election by beating the Conservatives.
The Prime Minister is expected to be quizzed about the latest humiliating defeat in a traditional stronghold when he gives a press conference in Kigali at lunchtime.
The Tories also lost a by-election in Red Wall seat of Wakefield, West Yorks, this morning.
Mr Johnson is in the Rwandan capital to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting - his first stop on an eight-day tour which includes the G7 summit in Bavaria and NATO summit in Madrid.
The Tiverton and Honiton ballot was triggered by sitting Tory MP Neil Parish’s resignation after he admitted twice watching porn in the Commons.
The Lib Dems had been optimistic about their chances in the rural constituency, which had been held by the Conservatives since its creation in 1997.
The Lib Dems were buoyed by having seized two Conservative strongholds in the past year - overturning a 16,223 Tory majority to win the Chesham and Amersham by-election by 8,028 votes last June, then winning the North Shropshire by-election, where the Tories held a 22,949 majority, by 5,925 votes in December.
Defeat in Devon will pile pressure on Mr Johnson’s premiership, with backbench critics poised to speak out this weeked.
Earlier this month, four in 10 Tory MPs backed a no-confidence vote aimed at ousting the PM.
