Hartlepool election results: HUGE blow to Keir as Labour loses by 6,940 votes- full result

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THE HARTLEPOOL by-election has been one of the key votes to watch this election day as the first test of Labour leader Keir Starmer in Red Wall areas in northern England. Who won in Hartlepool?

Labour was hoping for a revival of support in northern England after the Red Wall took a devastating blow in the 2019 general election. But Boris Johnson and the Conservatives rammed up campaigning in the days before Hartlepool residents went to the polls in a desperate bid to turn the seat blue. With Keir Starmer’s reputation on the line, who won?

Who won in Hartlepool?

Hartlepool has flipped to Blue for the first time since the seat was created in 1974. Conservative candidate Jill Mortimer has become the new MP, defeating Labour’s Paul Williams.

The result is a major blow to Labour leader Keir Starmer, whose leadership has been heavily criticised by Jeremy Corbyn loyalists within his party and traditional Labour voters.

There were 16 candidates in Hartlepool but the key results are:

  • Jill Mortimer (Con): 15,529
  • Paul Williams (Lab): 8,589

Conservative candidate – soon to be MP – Jill Mortimer hailed her victory as a “truly historic” result and pledged to “work tirelessly” for the town in Parliament to bring “jobs and investment”.

Labour’s defeated Hartlepool candidate Dr Paul Williams tweeted: “A massive thank you to everyone in Hartlepool who voted for me, and to the incredible Labour volunteers who worked so hard.

“#Congrats to Jill Mortimer. I’m off to do the important job now of taking the kids to school.”

The result is a major defeat for Labour, a 16 percent swing from Labour to Conservative.

Jeremy Corbyn loyalists are who have already been itching to criticise Keir Starmer now have perfect ammo against him – Mr Corbyn took the seat at the General Election in 2019.

It is likely to mean questions about the strategy he has pursued as leader over the past year, with traditional Labour voters continually having express disappointment with Mr Starmer’s attitude.

Key Labour players have already begun criticising their leader.

Diane Abbott, who was shadow home secretary during Jeremy Corbyn’s leadership, tweeted: “Crushing defeat for Labour in Hartlepool.

“Not possible to blame Jeremy Corbyn for this result. Labour won the seat twice under his leadership. Keir Starmer must think again about his strategy.”

Momentum co-chair Andrew Scattergood said: “A transformative socialist message has won in Hartlepool before, and it would have won again.

“Starmer’s strategy of isolating the left and replacing meaningful policy with empty buzzwords has comprehensively failed.

“If he doesn’t change direction, not only will he be out of a job – but the Labour Party may be out of government forever.”

Meanwhile, the Conservative Party Co-Chairman, Amanda Milling has responded to the Hartlepool result.

She said: “This is a historic result. We’re delighted that the people of Hartlepool have put their faith in Jill and the Conservatives to deliver on their priorities: to bring the change, investment and jobs Hartlepool deserves.

“The work to repay that faith starts right now, as we continue with our agenda to level up and build back better from the pandemic.

“I want to pay tribute to Jill Mortimer who will be a fantastic MP and will work tirelessly for the people of Hartlepool.

“And I want to thank the voters of Hartlepool who have put their trust in us to deliver on their priorities”

Source: Express.co.uk

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