'Jeremy Corbyn won there!' Momentum mocks Keir Starmer after Hartlepool election wipeout

Momentum, the left-wing Labour Party group which heavily supported Jeremy Corbyn, has made a jibe at Sir Keir's inability to hold onto the Hartlepool seat. The Tweet, posted just minutes

after the by-election result was announced, threw shade at Sir Keir's leadership and pointed out even his predecessor won the seat in 2017 election.

"A transformative socialist message has won in Hartlepool before, and it would have won again."

Momentum co-chair Andrew Scattergood also commented on the result, and said he fears Labour will be frozen out of politics for many years to come.

He said: "A transformative socialist message has won in Hartlepool before, and it would have won again.

"Starmer's strategy of isolating the left and replacing meaningful policy with empty buzzwords has comprehensively failed.

"If he doesn't change direction, not only will he be out of a job - but the Labour Party may be out of government forever."

The result of the Leave-supporting North East constituency was announced shortly after 7am this morning.

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Tory candidate Jill Mortimer clinched the seat from Labour candidate Dr Paul Williams, by a majority of 6,940.

It marks the first time the Tories have taken the seat since it was created almost 50 years ago.

Ms Mortimer described her by-election victory as a "truly historic result".

She told supporters: "I'm going to work tirelessly for Hartlepool and I will not let you down, I will not fail you."

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Momentum weren't the only ones to criticise Sir Keir's current strategy.

Former shadow home secretary Diane Abbott tweeted: "Not possible to blame Jeremy Corbyn for this result. Labour won the seat twice under his leadership.

Shadow cabinet minister Thangam Debbonaire admitted the party's new messaging was "not cutting through".

The importance of the Hartlepool seat was highlighted in the lead up to yesterday's vote, with both Mr Johnson and Sir Keir visiting the constituency three times during the campaign.

A Labour source said: "We've said all along the North East and the Midlands would be difficult.

"But the message from voters is clear and we have heard it - Labour has not yet changed nearly enough for voters to place their trust in us.

"We understand that. We are listening. And we will now redouble our efforts.

"People don't want to hear excuses. Keir has said he will take responsibility for these results - and he will take responsibility for fixing it and changing the Labour Party for the better."

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