play-icon Created with Sketch. ITV News Political Editor Robert Peston's report on the Conservative victory and in which direction Labour goes now Sir Keir Starmer has described Labour's defeat in the Hartlepool by-election as "bitterly disappointing" and has said he will do "whatever is necessary" to rebuild trust in the party. The Labour leader told his party to “stop quarrelling among ourselves” and address the needs of the country after Jill Mortimer's "truly historic" victory added another red wall seat to the list of Tory wins in traditional Labour areas. In a stunning result, the Conservatives overturned majority of 3,500 at the general election to take the seat – which had been Labour-held since it was formed in 1974 – with a majority of 6,940.