Labour have overturned an 8,000+ majority to win back the Crewe & Nantwich seat in the 2024 general election.
In a result mirrored across the UK, Crewe & Nantwich returned to RED as Connor Naismith easily beat off competition from Tory candidate Ben Fletcher.
Labour polled 20,837 votes and enjoyed a majority of more than 9,000 with Conservatives second with 11,110 votes.
Reform were a close third with 9,602 votes, and Lib Dems fourth on 2,286. The Lib Dem candidate Matthew Theobald was not present.
Greens polled 2,151, Putting Crewe First 588, Workers Party 373 and Monster Raving Loony Party 250.
The turnout of 60.36% for Crewe & Nantwich is the lowest since the by-election of 2008 when Edward Timpson won the seat for the Tories after the death of Gwyneth Dunwoody.
After the result was declared, Connor Naismith said he was “humbled” to be elected and that he would work “tirelessly” for his constituents.
Tory candidate Ben Fletcher’s 11,110 votes is a massive drop from the 28,704 polled by previous Crewe & Nantwich Tory MP Kieran Mullan.
It seems Dr Mullan knew the writing was on the wall in Crewe, tried to be selected as candidate for the new Chester South and Eddisbury, and ended up as candidate for the usually safe Tory seat Bexhill and Battle in East Sussex.
The results for Crewe & Nantwich as follows:
Connor Naismith LABOUR 20,837
Ben Fletcher CONSERVATIVE 11,110
Matt Wood REFORM 9,602
Matthew Theobald LIB DEMS 2,286
Te Ata Browne GREEN 2,151
Phil Lane WORKERS PARTY 373
Brian Silvester PUTTING CREWE AND NANTWICH FIRST 588
Lord Psychobilly Tractor MONSTER RAVING LOONY PARTY 250
Turnout figure was considerably lower than the 67.4% in the 2019 election.
That could be down to many voters simply thinking Labour would romp to victory so it was not worth the effort.
Watch Connor Naismith’s victory speech, below:
I voted Reform after a lifetime of voting Conservative. I was well aware of the “let Labour in” argument, but I did it for two reasons; it was obvious that Labour would win whatever, but more importantly, the Tories needed to receive the message that sheer incompetence and treating your voters with distain have consequences.
I’d like to think that longer term, they’ll listen, but honestly, I’m not sure they will.
@ Stan
It’s not absurd. It’s the first past the post system. Prop Rep isn’t a panacea as often it requires coalitions.
If Farage is as clever as he thinks he is, he will galvanise the right and the Conservative Party will coalesce with Reform. But do we really want Trumpian politics? I’ll let you think on that…
My post below was in reply to MR RONALD HAVENHAND
Thank Heavens for the presence of Nigel Farage MP in the House of Commons!
It can be safely said his Charismatic and Fearless Oratory will be so refreshingly head and shoulders above the endless zombie-like waffle customarily pumped out there.
Only 5 Reform Seats returned for 4M/14% Votes Share while the Govt Landslide was on the back of 9.7M/33% Votes Share and Lib Dem’s scooped 71Seats for lesser 3.5M/12% Votes Share is ABSURD???
Quite Clearly if Democratic Fair Play is to be taken seriously Our Electoral System needs urgently sorting!….
Or: despite the tories becoming increasingly right wing over the past few years…. They just weren’t right wing enough for the reform voters!
Connor is sincere and hard working, you can also believe that when he says he will do something, then he will do it. His cause is noble and profound, and he will be a strong voice for Crewe @ Nantwich in Parliament.
Hes not all bad then.
He comes across with someone with grounded integrity and a desire to make this area better for everyone. For that, I wish him well, and I hope the Labour party supports those objectives.
If you look at the numbers, Reform took away enough Tory votes to ensure a Labour victory, entirely as predicted. Farage has pretty much guaranteed that there will be 10 years of Labour Govt.