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Labour takes control of Banbury at General Election
05/07/2024
Sean Woodcock secures 18,468 votes in the Banbury constituency
The traditional Conservative stronghold of Banbury has fallen to the Labour party.
Sean Woodcock won 38 percent of the vote in Thursday’s General Election. The area’s previous Conservative MP, Victoria Prentis, was knocked into second place with a vote share of 32 percent.
Mr Woodcock told Banbury FM: “I’m proud and feel very privileged to be elected as the Member of Parliament for the Bambury constituency. It’s a massive honour in the area I grew up in and still live.
“Whilst it’s something I’m incredibly proud of I’m also very focused as I know there’s a lot of hard work to be done – and that’s what I’m going to do.”
Paul Topley from Reform UK was third.
The result was announced at 6am. In the revised Banbury constituency, which now includes Chipping Norton and Charlbury, but excludes Bicester, Labour had a majority of 3,256.
Back in 2019 in the old Banbury constituency the Conservative majority was 16,813.
Mr Woodcock has vowed to work for all the people in the constituency – those who voted for him and those who didn’t.
He said: ““People want change and that’s what I’m focused on delivering with the new Labour government. The priorities I put across during the campaign regarding the Horton hospital, fixing the NHS, looking after the economy in order to tackle the cost of living – those remain the priorities that I have.”
The huge swing to Labour echoed results elsewhere across the country, with Keir Starmer’s party seizing control of power.
Outgoing MP Victoria Prentis said: “There’s clearly been a strong tactical vote against the Conservative Party generally – the results are very difficult to call. It is a disappointing night across the country for Conservatives.”
She vowed to keep working to protect the Horton General Hospital and named saving the hospital in 2016 as her proudest moment.
Looking to the future Mrs Prentis said: “I’m a Banbury woman. I’m not going anywhere. I will be around to serve Banbury in any way it wants me to.
“I’ve been very involved in trying to prosecute the horrible war crimes that are going on in Ukraine. I will definitely want to continue to volunteer in that space. Other than that I haven’t really got any plans at the moment.”
THE RESULT
Liz Adams – Liberal Democrat – 4352
Arron Baker – Green Party – 2615
Cassi Bellingham – Indepedent – 850
Chris Nevile – Climate Party – 242
Victoria Prentis – Conservative – 15,212
Declan Soper – Social Democratic Party – 155
Paul Topley – Reform UK – 6,284
Sean Woodcock – Labour – 18,468
Published: by Banbury FM Newsteam