A giant inflatable Boris Johnson was erected outside the by-election count in Hartlepool as it appeared the town would have a Tory MP for the first time in decades.
The enormous Prime Minister appeared just after 4am, an hour after Labour effectively conceded a hefty defeat in the poll - with the Tory lead expected to run into the thousands.
Under cover of darkness, a local entrepreneur installed the blow-up Boris outside the Mill House pub, which is directly opposite the leisure centre where votes are still being counted.
Businessman Ray Lidell - who is well known locally after raising tens of thousands of pounds for charity with an inflatable Grinch at Christmas - was behind the inflatable Johnson.
But the pub’s landlord, Taffy Turner, 57, didn’t vote Conservative in the by-election.
“I went Sam Lee, independent, so it was a wasted vote,” he said.
“But I said yes to this because it’s a bit of fun.”
He added: “The higher they go, the more corrupt they become.”
Of the Prime Minister, Mr Turner said: “He’s approachable, isn’t he? He is a buffoon. But you see him in Hartlepool and he isn’t standoffish.”
It came as early results suggested a grim night Mr Starmer’s party - with Labour losing seats to the Tories in a raft of Northern councils.
Votes continue to be counted in the North Eastern town - with turnout an unusually high 42.55%.
The final result is not expected to be declared before 5.30am.
But almost as soon as polls closed, Labour sources were predicting a torrid set of results for their party - and a “big Tory majority” in Hartlepool.
And just before 3am, Labour Shadow Transport Secretary Jim McMahon had effectively conceded defeat.
He told Sky News: "It would be difficult to do that given how we see the numbers beginning to pan out."
