Greens make history in East Anglia with Waveney Valley win
The Green Party co-leader beat the Conservatives
The Greens have made history in East Anglia after winning the race for the new Waveney Valley constituency in the General Election.
Adrian Ramsay, Green Party co-leader, won 20,467 votes, 5,593 more than the Conservative runner-up Richard Rout, who secured 14,874.
It’s the first time the Green Party have won a seat in Parliament outside of Brighton Pavillion.
Mr Ramsay said: “The voters of Waveney Valley have made a momentous and exciting decision today to vote for positive change, and I am profoundly humbled by the faith they have placed in me and the Green Party in electing me as their MP.
“I promise each and every one of them, whether they voted for me or not, that I will do my utmost to make sure their voices are heard by those who have neglected them, and rural East Anglia, for so long.”
Asked about his first steps, he said he would celebrate with volunteers, colleagues, and supporters around the Diss Mere this morning.
The Waveney Valley constituency
The Waveney Valley constituency was created this year and includes areas in both Norfolk and Suffolk, all of which have been represented by the Tories for decades.
Mr Rout said low results from Labour and the Lib Dems in the constituency gave a further boost to the Greens this time around.
He added: “Looking at the effort from the past few weeks, we felt on the doorstep that things were challenging, like they have been challenging nationally.
“The Conservative Party needs to improve, needs to go return to its core values, and needs to make sure it gives people something to vote for, not against.
“I don’t think voters have abandoned us, I think they have felt abandoned by us.”
Asked whether he would stand again, he said he would remain open to that possibility but would take a step back, reflect, and think about the future.
Nationally, the Greens have won 4 seats so far, while Labour is set to form the next Government with over 400 seats.