Labour's Ed Balls looses Morley and Outwood to Conservatives
All the General Election results have now been counted and released for Leeds and Yorkshire. It’s been an eventful night of counting.
Ed Balls has lost his Labour seat in Morley and Outwood to Andrea Jenkyns for the Conservatives. This came as a surprise - Ed Balls demanded a recount.
Andrea Jenkyns told Radio Aire:
‘Ive worked my heart out for the last two years and I really want to prove to the residents of Morley and Outwood that I’m the right person for the job. I love the area, I’m committed and I want to be that strong voice for Yorkshire’.
The former Chancellor Ed Balls lost out by 422 votes and expressed his disappointment:
‘Any personal disappointment I have is nothing compared to the sorrow I have at the result that labour has achieved.’
Elsewhere throughout Leeds Labour retained most:
Leeds East is a Labour hold but Richard Burgon is taking over from veteran George Mudie, who stood down after 22 years.
Leeds Central is a Labour hold for Hilary Benn, he’s been an MP there since 1999 and says he promises to continue fighting for the interests of Leeds Central:
‘I’ve now been returned for the fifth time by the good voters of Leeds central, it’s a great privilege and honour to represent the people as a member of parliament the most important thing we can do is to listen to our constituents to fight for their interests and I promise to continue doing that.’
Leeds North East is a Labour hold for Fabian Hamilton.
Leeds North West is a Liberal Democrat hold for Greg Mulholland, but lost over 10,000 votes.
Leeds West is a Labour hold for Rachel Reeves.
Our two Conservative MPs were victorious:
Conservative retained the marginal seat in Pudsey with Stuart Andrew.
Alec Shelbrooke kept the Conservatives seat for Elmet and Rothwell.