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Old Bexley and Sidcup by-election: Conservatives win seat Old Bexley and Sidcup: Tories hold safe London seat at by-election
(about 4 hours later)
New MP Louie French wore predecessor Mr Brokenshire's rosette on election night as a mark of respectNew MP Louie French wore predecessor Mr Brokenshire's rosette on election night as a mark of respect
The Conservatives have held on to their safe south-east London seat of Old Bexley and Sidcup in a by-election. The Conservatives have held the safe suburban London seat of Old Bexley and Sidcup in by-election.
The election was prompted by the death of former MP James Brokenshire, who died from cancer aged 53 in October. Their candidate, local councillor Louie French, won more than half the votes, with Labour's Daniel Francis second.
Conservative councillor Louie French won with over half the votes, but with a low turnout the Tories' majority was much reduced. Mr French paid tribute to the area's former MP, James Brokenshire, whose death from cancer in October triggered the contest.
Mr French paid tribute to his friend Mr Brokenshire, saying the contest had been tough but "fought with dignity". The Tories' majority has been cut from nearly 19,000 to 4,478, with a 10% swing to Labour.
The voter turnout was low at 34% - although by-election votes are historically lower than general election turnout. In 2019, during the general election, the voter turnout was 69.8%. Although votes at mid-term polls are usually lower than at general elections, the 34% turnout was the lowest at a by-election since 2018.
It meant the Tories' majority has been cut from nearly 19,000 to 4,478, with a 10% swing to Labour. Reform UK - formerly the Brexit Party - came third with 6.6% of the vote, with the party's leader and candidate Richard Tice, describing it as a "massive result"..
In his acceptance speech, Mr French said he will "work tirelessly to repay the trust that you've placed in me and I will not let you down". The Green Party and Liberal Democrats both lost their deposits.
"My focus will now be delivering on those promises that I made during the campaign - get our fair share of London's police officers, securing more investment for local schools and hospitals, protecting our precious green spaces."
He added: "This is the greatest honour of my life. And I hope it inspires people to achieve their own dreams."
By-election: Tory wobbles in true blue Bexley?By-election: Tory wobbles in true blue Bexley?
Tributes to MP Brokenshire, who has died aged 53Tributes to MP Brokenshire, who has died aged 53
Tory campaigners were confident that the party would hold onto Old Bexley and Sidcup. Bexley is a traditionally strong area for the Conservatives and the party has held the constituency in its current form since its creation in 1983.
The Tories have held the constituency since it was created and Mr Brokenshire, who had lung cancer, had held the seat for the Conservatives since 2010. Labour's Ellie Reeves, MP for nearby Lewisham West and Penge, said she was "pleased with the result".
At the 2019 general election, he held the south-east London seat with a majority of almost 19,000, taking 64.5% of the vote. It has previously been held by former prime minister Ted Heath. "This is a Conservative stronghold, somewhere that had a 19,000 majority at the last general election and what we've seen tonight is that majority being slashed," she added.
The Conservatives won the seat with a vote share of 51.5%. Labour came second with a 30.9% vote share and Reform UK came third with 6.6%. But Tory Party chairman Oliver Dowden told BBC Breakfast the reduced majority for his party "reflected a very low turnout".
Labour MP Ellie Reeves said she was "pleased with the result" and seeing the majority reduced. He described the victory as a "good solid result for us", adding it was consistent with elections held in the middle of a Parliament.
She added: "This is a Conservative stronghold, somewhere that had a 19,000 majority at the last general election and what we've seen tonight is that majority being slashed." Speaking to Sky News, he said: "This idea that Labour have made some surge ahead is really for the birds."
Reform UK's leader and candidate for Old Bexley and Sidcup, Richard Tice said in a tweet that this was a "massive result" for his party. He added that they came in third, "with almost as many votes as the Lib Dems & Greens combined". Bexley is historically a safe Conservative seat and was previously held by former Tory PM Edward Heath
Newly-elected MP Mr French said he was the first homegrown MP for the seat. The election was prompted by the death of former MP James Brokenshire, who died from lung cancer aged 53 in October.
At the 2019 general election, he held the south-east London seat with a majority of almost 19,000, taking 64.5% of the vote.
In his acceptance speech, Mr French said the contest had been tough but "fought with dignity".
He vowed to "work tirelessly to repay the trust that you've placed in me and I will not let you down".
"My focus will now be delivering on those promises that I made during the campaign - get our fair share of London's police officers, securing more investment for local schools and hospitals, protecting our precious green spaces."
Old Bexley and Sidcup: Result in full
Louie French, Conservatives - 11,189 (51.48%)
Daniel Francis, Labour - 6,711 (30.88%)
Richard Tice, Reform UK - 1,432 (6.59%)
Jonathan Rooks, Green - 830 (3.82%)
Simone Reynolds, Liberal Democrats - 647 (2.98%)
Elaine Cheeseman, The English Democrats - 271 (1.25%)
John Poynton, UKIP - 184 (0.85%)
Richard Hewison, Rejoin EU - 151 (0.69%)
David Kurten, Heritage Party - 116 (0.53%)
Carol Valinejad, Christian Peoples Alliance - 108 (0.50%)
Mad Mike Young, Official Monster Raving Loony Party - 94 (0.43%)