North Shropshire: Helen Morgan's victory speech in full

Ms Morgan established a near-6,000 majority, overturning the 23,000 won by her predecessor Owen Paterson for the Tories in 2019, in the by-election triggered by his resignation over a lobbying scandal.

She secured 17,957 votes – 5, 925 more than Conservative candidate Dr Neil Shastri-Hurst while Labour finished in a distant third with 3,686 for Ben Wood.

In her victory speech, Ms Morgan told the PM that 'the party was over' and that her victory was not just for North Shropshire, but 'all of the UK' who want to see the back of Mr Johnson and his government.

She said: "I want to thank the Liberal Democrat campaigners who answered our party's call.

"Your amazing efforts have delivered a gift of hope to our country just in time for Christmas.

"Tonight the people of North Shropshire have spoken on behalf of the British people.

"They have said, loudly and clearly, ‘Boris Johnson, the party is over’.

“Your Government, run on lies and bluster, will be held accountable. It will be scrutinised, it will be challenged and it can and will be defeated.

"Across the country, the Liberal Democrats are taking on the Conservatives and winning.

"In rural Shropshire today, just like in Buckinghamshire in June, we have won the support of people who have always voted conservative and people who always oppose them.

"Thousands of lifelong conservative voters are dismayed by Boris Johnson’s lack of decency and fed up of being taken for granted.

"And thousands of lifelong labour voters choosing to lend their vote to a candidate who could defeat the Conservatives.

"People who believe our politics should be about creating a better country for us all, not a nightly soap opera of calamity and chaos.

"All of them casting their ballots for the Liberal Democrats.

"And let me say specifically to all those Labour supporters who lent me their votes, thank you.

"You have shown tonight that together, we can defeat the conservatives; not with deals behind closed doors but with common sense at the ballot box.

"These are testing times for our country.

"Our NHS, which we know all too well in Shropshire, is on the brink. Our economy is in a precarious state with peoples’ livelihoods at risk.

"Our country is crying out for leadership – Mr Johnson, you are no leader.

"Many of your predecessors took office because they believed in a sense of national service.

"That they were duty bound to do what they believed is right for our country.

"To represent all of us, even if we disagreed with them.

"Mr Johnson, this is not how we operate and too often it is about you and not about us.

“Instead of taking action to help Shropshire’s NHS, you spend your time seeking questionable donations to refurbish your flat.

“Instead of taking action to support Shropshire’s farmers, you spend your time misleading the nation on how you and your office partied during lockdown. Tonight the people of North Shropshire have said enough is enough.

“They have said that you are unfit to lead and that they want a change."

She paid tribute to her party leader Sir Ed Davey and then thanked the electorate who put her into Westminster.

She added: “Thank you most of all to the people of North Shropshire.

"Not just for your support throughout this campaign or not just putting your faith in me in representing you in Parliament but for all the hard work and sacrifices you’ve made over the last two years to get our communities through this awful pandemic.

"I will never take it for granted – my priorities are your priorities including our ambulance services, GPs and hospitals, supporting our farmers and our rural way of life.

"And helping our communities through this new wave of Covid.

"As your MP I promise I will work for you and only you; I will always put our communities and people first whether you supported me or supported someone else.

"I am here to represent you and stand up for the people of North Shropshire."