Warwick and Leamington MP Matt Western has thanked voters for ‘doing something amazing’ by choosing labour.
Mr Western overturned Conservative Chris White’s 6,000 majority to take the seat by 1,200 votes.
Mr Western, a Warwickshire county councillor, received 25, 227 votes; Mr White 24,021; Lib-Dem Nick Soloman 2,810; the Green’s Jonathan Chilvers 1,198, and UKIP’s Bob Dhillon 799.
The new MP said: “I always thought Warwick and Leamington was a special place and now I know for sure. It’s very extraordinary and humbling. I never imagined this and I want to thank all those people who voted, I have always believed voting is one of the most important things and greatest privileges we have.
“Thank you to my team – I won’t go through names you know who you are, it was a great team of people we assembled at very short notice four weeks ago, I was selected five weeks ago. Together we have achieved something quite extraordinary.
“I want to thank you all and I want to thank the electorate of Warwick and Leamington – you have done something amazing and it is a humbling and an immense privilege to represent you.
“I want to say commiserations to Chris, he has done a very good job as the MP representing us for the past seven years now. Thank you for a good contest and being a decent person. Likewise to the other candidates thank you very much.
“Once again thank you for this privilege.”
And departing MP Chris White, who represented Conservatives for the Warwick and Leamington seat, has thanked constituents.
Speaking after the result he said: “I want to thank my agents and campaign team and parliamentary staff.
“It has been extraordinary end to a phenomenal seven years representing the best constituency in the county. I would like to to be the first person to congratulate Matt and wish him all the best in this most incredible job.
“Thank you to everyone who has given me their support over the last seven years and to the other candidates for a good campaign.”
