Oliver Dowden has resigned as chairman of the Conservative Party after it suffered two by-election defeats, saying in a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson that “someone must take responsibility”. By-election losses ‘monumental and humiliating’ for Boris Johnson says Nicola Sturgeon In Tiverton and Honiton the Liberal Democrats overturned a 24,000 Tory majority to win, while in Wakefield, Simon Lightwood was elected with a majority of 4,925 on a swing of 12.7% from the Tories to Labour. Wakefield was one of the so-called red wall seats won by the Tories in the 2019 general election after being Labour since the 1930s. Boris Johnson has said he will “listen” to voters but will “keep going” after the Tories suffered a double by-election defeat.