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Now on with the spike podcast.

Hello and welcome to the Spiked podcast.

I'm Fraser Meyers and joining me this week as ever we have

Spiked Deputy Editor Tom Slater. Hello? And Spiked columnist Ella Whelan.

Hi. Today we'll be talking about Labour's crushing defeat in Hartlepool and the local elections.

The Conservatives have made history in Hartlepool this morning.

Jill Mortimer, Conservative Party candidate 15, 529.

It's early days, but in a very encouraging set of results so far.

Paul Daniel Williams for the Labour Party, 8,589. We are the party of working people.

Can I stop you there?

You appear as though you're not the party of working people.

The Conservatives have won a decisive victory over labour in the Hartlepool by-election. Hartlepool and the local elections

more broadly were a key test for Labour leader Kirstarma.

...