Tipton and Wednesbury election result: Labour reclaims Red Wall seat as Tory MP loses out
Labour have reclaimed one of their Red Wall seats as Antonia Bance became the first MP in the newly formed Tipton and Wednesbury constituency.
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The seat was the first to start counting just after midnight, with a turnout of 43.17 per cent and 31,991 votes cast.
The seat was made up of the former West Bromwich East and West constituencies, which were abolished heading into this election.
Eight people stood, including the previous West Bromwich West Tory MP, Shaun Bailey, whose former constituency made up part of the new Tipton and Wednesbury seat.
The declaration of Antonia Bance as the new MP for West Bromwich was met with rapturous applause from supporters at Tipton Sports Academy, as well as warm applause from her opponents following the announcement of the results.
In her victory speech, Ms Bance thanked outgoing MP Shaun Bailey for his service and championing the area and her opponents for giving their best in a gruelling campaign.
She said: "Everyone's vote counts the same and you make it so, so thank you - and I want to say thanks to my opponents as this campaign has been gruelling for all of us, so be proud today that we all stood up for what we believe in.
"In particular, thank you Shaun for your service and for always championing this very special part of the Black Country."
She said that to be elected was the honour of her life and said that she would work hard for everyone in the constituency, as well as saying that a change was coming.
She said: "To everyone who lives here, no matter how you voted, I will work for you and if, today, you trusted Labour with your vote for the first time, thank you.
"I will do everything I can to repay your trust and it has been 14 long years of watching funding to our councils cut and cut and cut, 14 years of the NHS on its knees and 14 years of too many of our children not having enough to eat.
"I'm thinking of some of the hundreds of people I've met in the course of this campaign, like the shop owner fighting for customers when no one has much to spare, and the young man living in a caravan because he can't afford to live anywhere on a zero hours contract."
In an emotional and passionate address, Ms Bance said that a Labour government would have the backs of those in need and she as the local MP would fight for people.
She said: "Today is the start of a Labour Government and we hope we will transform the lives of so many working class kids in places just like this.
"We did it before and we will do it again and we are focussed on what matters to working people, like the economy, security, cheaper bills, safer streets, our NHS back on its feet and better opportunities.
"It's time to end the chaos and dysfunction in Westminster and rebuild our country."
The full results are:
Shaun Bailey - Conservative: 8,370
Antonia Bance - Labour: 11,755
Abdul Husen - Independent: 660
Mohammed Hussain-Billa - Independent: 945
Mark Redding - Green Party: 1,509
Mark Rochell - Liberal Democrats: 592
Jack Sabharwal - Reform UK: 8,019
