Labor MP Joel Fitzgibbon has declared the significant loss in the Upper Hunter byelection a “wake-up call”.

Labor has conceded to the Nationals’ Dave Layzell after the Nationals defied expectations of a swing against the government in the crucial byelection.

Labor’s primary vote fell by seven per cent.

Mr Fitzgibbon told Ben Fordham it’s a “wake-up call”.

“The Labor brand is in trouble.”

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Image: Getty/Tracey Nearmy