The verdict of voters can't be ignored and there are challenges ahead for the UK's big political parties.
But let's take a look first at the Conservatives, Labour and the Liberal Democrats.
Professor Sir John, of Strathclyde University, said the result implied there was still a question mark about the electorate's enthusiasm for Labour, as opposed to distaste for the Conservatives, given the decline in the Conservative vote was more than twice as big as the rise in the Labour vote.
One thing the Lib Dems are irritated by is the grumbles of Conservatives, most notably the Health Secretary Sajid Javid this weekend, about talk of a deal between the Lib Dems and Labour to work together to eject Tory MPs. Lib Dem sources also point out they couldn't possibly have won and won so big in three previously rock solid Conservative seats without luring former Tory voters to them, including, especially in Tiverton and Honiton, plenty who voted Leave.It's 30 years since a party lost two by elections on the same day. The last time it happened, it was the Conservatives again who were on the receiving end of two chunks of the electorate's ire.
On Monday, the proposed change in the law that could ditch chunks of the Protocol will be debated in the Commons.Ministers insist it won't do that.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
By-election latest: Double defeats for Tories in Wakefield and in Tiverton and Honiton - BBC NewsThe Liberal Democrats overturn a 24,000 Tory majority to win in Tiverton and Honiton, while Labour reclaim Wakefield after losing it to the Tories in 2019.
Read more »
Boris Johnson says he will 'listen to voters' following humiliating by-electionBREAKING: Boris Johnson says he will ‘listen to voters’ - but won't step down - following humiliating by-election defeats.
Read more »
Tiverton and Honiton by-election: Lib Dems take seatLiberal Democrats overturn Conservative majority of more than 24,000 to win Tiverton and Honiton by-election
Read more »
'We cannot carry on with business as usual': Oliver Dowden quits as Tory chair after by-election maulingConservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden has resigned after the party slumped to two by-election defeats.
Read more »
Tiverton and Honiton by-election: Lib Dems take seatThe Lib Dems have repeated the result of the North Shropshire by-election, overturning a large Tory majority in Tiverton & Honiton. Labour also took Wakefield from the Conservatives in the night’s other by-election.
Read more »