Diallo Rabain stormed to victory by a decisive margin for the Progressive Labour Party last night in Devonshire North Central, where he took 56 per cent of the vote.

Mr Rabain hailed his win over the One Bermuda Alliance’s Andrew Simons, at 461 votes to 351, as “a referendum on the OBA”, and a harbinger of the General Election soon to come.

“It’s a message to the OBA,” he told jubilant supporters outside the by-election’s polling station shortly after 11pm.

The policies implemented since the OBA won in 2012 had been “solidly rejected by the constituents”, he said.

“There is a trust deficit that is growing; there is a Bermuda being generated where Bermudians feel they have no say, and no way to make a living.”

Bermudians, he added, were saying “no more” on issues ranging from the airport redevelopment plan to “unfair” immigration policies.

Thanking his support team, Mr Rabain told the elated crowd: “It’s the result we expected; it’s the result we deserve.”

Mr Simons offered his congratulations, saying Mr Rabain had “clearly worked hard, and won the support of a large majority of voters”.

The campaign since the retirement in early December of the previous MP, Glenn Blakeney, had left both with “a lot of ground to cover”, Mr Simons said, commending his own support team.

Asked if he would continue to campaign, Mr Simons said he would soon be living in the constituency, allowing him to connect with its communities.

He added: “When you’re running in a campaign that has a definite time frame it’s easier to focus your political energy. I will continue to be involved in public service.”

It was a significant turnout for a by-election: with 827 ballots cast, there were more votes than in the General Election. There were 1,300 registered voters in total.

Last night’s result was commended as a “checkmate” by Marc Bean, the Leader of the Opposition, as he celebrated outside the polling station at the National Sports Centre.