In 2017 the Tories polled 14,319 in Hartlepool and lost.
Labour polled 21,969.
On 6th May this year, the Tories polled 15,529 in Hartlepool and won.
Labour polled 8,589!
The Tories gained just 1,210 votes but, with Labour hemorrhaging 13,380 votes, Labour effectively gave it away.
The survation poll that predicted a Tory victory in Hartlepool also said that 67% favoured investing more in public services, 57% supported renationalisation of Royal Mail, 69% supported free broadband. Voters there clearly hoped for something better than Tories. This is not working class voters being conned or stupid this is a complete failure of Labour to offer an alternative.
Labour Affairs 