Rishi Sunak brushes off by-election defeat, jokes new Labour MP will ‘support’ him more than Nadine Dorries

Both prime minister Rishi Sunak and Labour leader Keir Starmer welcomed the new MPs for Mid Bedfordshire and Tamworth to the House of Commons today.

Starmer said: “Can I start by welcoming the new member for Mid Bedfordshire? The first Labour MP ever to represent those beautiful towns and villages. He defied the odds, history and, of course, the fantasy Lib Dem bar charts.

“Can I also welcome the new member for Tamworth? She will be a powerful representative for her constituents”.

Rishi Sunak said: “Can I, in fact, join him in welcoming the new members to their places? After all, I suspect the new member for Mid Beds may actually support me a little bit more than the last one”.