Gen Kitchen, the new Labour MP for Wellingborough, said in her victory speech that people “desperately want change and a fresh start for our country”.

“The people of Wellingborough have spoken for Britain. This is a stunning victory for the Labour Party and must send a message from Northamptonshire to Downing Street,” she said.

Ms Kitchen went on to say that she ran her campaign based on local issues and the “national desire to change”.

She praised her team and campaign volunteers, as well as her family.

She singled out her husband, apologising for cutting their honeymoon short, adding: “I promise, darling, I will make it up to you – but it might just have to wait until after the general election.”

In conclusion, Ms Kitchen said Labour is “ready to serve the people of this country”.

Starmer: By-election results show ‘people want change’

We’ve just had the reaction of Sir Keir Starmer to the Wellingborough and Kingswood by-election wins.

The Labour leader says the results are “fantastic” and “show people want change and are ready to put their faith in a changed Labour Party to deliver it”.

He goes on: “By winning in these Tory strongholds, we can confidently say that Labour is back in the service of working people, and we will work tirelessly to deliver for them.”

He says the Tories have “failed”, and “Rishi’s recession proves that”.

“That’s why we’ve seen so many former Conservative voters switching directly to this changed Labour Party.”

He concluded: “Those who gave us their trust in Kingswood and Wellingborough, and those considering doing so, can be safe in the knowledge that we will spend every day working to get Britain’s future back.”