Labour veteran Hilary Benn has been re-elected in Leeds South, winning a significant majority.
The long-serving MP was first elected in the city back in 1999. He is now likely to step into a Cabinet position, having served as Keir Starmer’s Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since last year.
The long-serving MP was first elected in the city back in 1999. He is now likely to step into a Cabinet position, having served as Keir Starmer’s Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland since last year.
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00:00Johnny Fickerdike, Christian People's Alliance, 341.
00:07Ed Carlyle, Green Party, 5,838.
00:14Karen Cuxley, Conservative Party Candidate, 4,172.
00:24Nico Omolana, 277.
00:29George Sykes, Liberal Democrats, 1,340.
00:34Daniel Paul Whetstone, Social Democratic Party, 1,874.
00:42The total number of ballot papers rejected was 473.
00:47I hereby declare that Hilary James Benn is duly elected as the Member of Parliament for the Leeds South Constituency.
01:17Tom, returning officer, to give you your proper title.
01:34I would like to begin by thanking the police and your wonderful elections team.
01:41Because you have ensured that through our precious democracy, the voice of the people has been heard.
01:56I want to thank my agent, Adam Ogilvie, my wonderful team.
02:06I want to thank my wife Sally and my family for their constant love and encouragement.
02:13But above all, I wish to thank the voters of Leeds South for having put their trust and confidence in me as their Member of Parliament.
02:25I will do my best to repay that trust.
02:30And I will represent every single one of you, whether you voted for me, or voted for someone else, or voted for no one at all.
02:42Now, although the night is not yet over, it now seems clear that the country has voted for change.
02:51And Labour is ready for the task.
02:54And although the road ahead will not be easy, let us remember what Nye Bevan, the man who founded the National Health Service, once said.
03:05The language of priorities is the religion of socialism.
03:12And as the Labour Party, we have set out our priorities.
03:17And now the work will begin to bring our communities together, to bring help to people who have suffered so much, and to begin to change our country for the better.
03:33And I look forward to that task. Thank you very much indeed.
03:47Thank you.