Sir Keir Starmer hailed the results as a sign that “people overwhelmingly want change” and are “ready to put faith in our changed Labour to deliver it”.

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A Tory spokesperson described the mega defeats as “difficult” but highlighted there was a “much-reduced voter turnout”.

In Tamworth Sarah Edwards defeated Conservative candidate Andrew Cooper by 1,316 votes – overturning a huge 19,600 majority.

Mr Cooper rushed to the exit of the town’s Rawlett School just before the results were announced and was missing on stage as they were read out.

In Mid-Beds, Labour’s Alistair Strathern beat Local Police and Crime Commissioner Festus Akinbusoye to overturn former minister Nadine Dorries‘ 24,000 majority.

It is the largest numerical Tory majority to be overturned at a by-election since 1945.

A jubilant Sir Keir said: “These are phenomenal results that show Labour is back in the service of working people and redrawing the political map.

“Winning in these Tory strongholds shows that people overwhelmingly want change and they’re ready to put their faith in our changed Labour Party to deliver it.

“To those who have given us their trust, and those considering doing so, Labour will spend every day acting in your interests and focused on your priorities. Labour will give Britain its future back.”

Shadow Minister Peter Kyle, who headed up Labour’s Mid-Beds campaign, said the party had delivered a “political earthquake”.

“This is the biggest by-election shock in history,” he said.

“It is a political earthquake and it is one that is sending an unignorable message to Westminster and to Rishi Sunak that this country deserves better.”

In a message to the PM following his victory, Mr Strathern demanded: “Get in your government car, drive to Buckingham Palace, do the decent thing and call a general election.”

Polling supremo Professor Sir John Curtice described the results as “extremely bad news” for the Tories, adding Rishi Sunak is on course for defeat at the next General Election.

He said: “This isn’t destiny, but it is a pointer and it is a pointer that, unless the Conservatives can fairly dramatically and fairly radically turn things around, then they are in truth staring defeat in the face in 12 months’ time.”

Sir John warned the Tories risked losing voters to both Labour on the left and Reform UK on the right.