Oliver Dowden resigns as Tory party chairman after historic by-election defeat

Oliver Dowden has resigned as chairman of the Tory party after it suffered two by-election defeats, saying in a letter to Prime Minister Boris Johnson that "someone must take responsibility". In Tiverton and Honiton the Liberal Democrats overturned a 24,000 Tory majority to win, while Labour reclaimed Wakefield. The contests, triggered by the resignation of disgraced Tories, offered voters the chance to give their verdict on the Prime Minister just weeks after 41 per cent of his own MPs cast their ballots against him. Mr Dowden said in his letter to the PM the by-elections "are the latest in a run of very poor results for our party". Subscribe to the Evening Standard on YouTube:    / @thelondonstandard