Inside Tory strongholds worn out by Labour’s ‘loveless’ landslide

Britons today revealed why they had turned their backs on the Conservatives and their hopes for positive change after Labour’s landslide General Election victory.

Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister today after a brutal set of results for the Tories which saw Rishi Sunak apologise to the British people and his party.

After 648 of the 650 Commons seats had been declared, Labour had a majority of 176. Labour had 412 seats and the Tories 121, the worst result in the party’s history.

Today, MailOnline spoke to voters in a number of seats gained by Labour or the Liberal Democrats, with many explaining why they had decided not to vote Tory:

POOLE – CONSERVATIVE SEAT SINCE 1880

LABOUR GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE

1. Labour, Neil Duncan-Jordan – 14,168 (31.8%)
2. Conservative, Robert Syms – 14,150 (31.8%)
3. Reform UK, Andrei Dragotoniu – 7,429 (16.7%)
4. Liberal Democrat, Oliver Walters – 5,507 (12.4%)
5. Green, Sarah Ward – 2,218 (5.0%)
6. Independent, Joe Cronin – 698 (1.6%)
7. UK Independence Party, Leanne Barnes – 325 (0.7%)

Voters in the exclusive resort of Sandbanks today told how they have turned their backs on the Conservatives after losing all trust in the party.

Sandbanks and the neighbouring posh suburb of Canford Cliffs are in the Poole constituency which had returned a Conservative MP going back to 1880.

But today the Labour candidate Neil Jordan defeated long-established Tory Robert Syms, who had served as the MP since 1997, by just 18 votes.

Richard Hamshere, 53, said: ‘I’ve always voted Conservative but I didn’t this time. Their standards have fallen below what’s expected.

‘I’ve lost trust in them because of things like Partygate. I personally don’t like the non-dom status of Rishi Sunak and his wife. There’s just so much you could say that they’ve got wrong.’

Kieron Franklin, 48, said: ‘The definition of madness is doing the same thing over and over and expecting something different. The country is in a state of disrepair, it’s time for change.

‘I used to vote Conservative but I didn’t this time. It’s more about not Conservative than about wanting a Labour government.

‘I think it’s difficult to argue for a continued Conservative government when they have 14 years and haven’t got it right. We need something different, let’s hope Labour can deliver that.’

Betty Harland, 84, said: ‘I do normally vote Tory but I voted Reform this time because they are useless.

‘My son is a surgeon and my grandson is training to be one in London and he can’t afford to live on what he earns because Sunak has ignored doctors and they’re not earning much more than people serving you coffee.’

Alison Cooper, 59, said: ‘I do normally vote for Conservatives but I didn’t this time. I’ve lost trust in them as politicians, there were too many stories where they weren’t particularly telling the truth and we’re covering things up.

‘I actually felt quite sorry for Rishi Sunak, I think he did a good job as chancellor during the pandemic.

‘But I suppose he was kind of not elected so he didn’t have the party or the people behind him.

‘I think it’s a lesson for the Conservatives to learn – to be mandated, you can’t just put somebody in there.

‘I wasn’t surprised they lost here, there was a lot of chatter on the neighbourhood groups, people saying they were changing from Conservatives to someone else.’

Another local resident, who didn’t want to be named, said: ‘The Tories went too liberal, they weren’t Tory anymore.

‘I did still vote Tory because I don’t think Reform are ready yet but I’m glad Nigel Farage got in, I think he’s going to be good in Parliament and tell it like it is.

‘I think they will do very well next time, they’ll have my vote then.’

SOUTHEND WEST AND LEIGH – TORY SINCE 1916

LABOUR GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE 

1. Labour, David Burton-Sampson – 16,739 (35.6%)
2. Conservative, Anna Firth – 14,790 (31.5%)
3. Reform UK, Peter Little – 8,273 (17.6%)
4. Green, Tilly Hogrebe – 3,262 (6.9%)
5. Liberal Democrat, Stephen Cummins – 3,174 (6.8%)
6. Confelicity, James Miller – 262 (0.6%)
7. Independent, Tom Darwood – 172 (0.4%)
8. Heritage Party, Lara Hurley – 99 (0.2%)
9. Psychedelic Movement, Jason Pilley – 99 (0.2%)
10. Independent, Robert Francis – 98 (0.2%)

Voters in the previously staunchly Conservative seat of Southend West and Leigh reacted with a mixture of resignation, delight and fear when they woke up this morning to find they had a Labour MP.

Many residents who had always voted Tory admitted switching to Labour for the first time because they were fed up with the Conservative government and felt it was ‘time for change’.

Others admitted having voted for Reform UK as they were so dissatisfied with 14 years of Tory rule, despite warnings that it would make a Labour victory more likely in the Essex constituency.

But nobody seemed surprised that Labour was victorious in the seat where the hugely popular Conservative MP Sir David Amess was stabbed to death by an Islamic terrorist in his constituency surgery in October 2021.

Self-employed plumbing and heating engineer Peter Newbury, who is still working at the age of 85, summed up the despair of many in Leigh-on-Sea when he said: ‘I think a lot of people who voted Labour here made a big mistake.

‘I have voted Tory since the age of 18. I have never changed and I never will. I was tempted by Reform – but then I realised that a vote for them would damage the Conservatives.

‘I never thought I would see this area go to Labour – but now it has. But I am very confident that Labour will mess things up and they will only be here for one term.’

Mr Newbury’s wife Sandra, 80, added: ‘I voted Conservative, but I was not expecting them to hang on here. I just can’t stand Labour’s woke attitudes with Starmer not knowing the difference between a man and a woman. I could go on and on.’

Labour candidate David Barton-Simpson was victorious in the constituency, becoming area’s first non-Conservative MP since a Liberal victory in 1916.

Mr Barton-Simpson polled 16,739 votes, beating sitting Conservative MP Anna Firth into second place with her 14,790 votes, and Reform UK candidate Peter Little coming third with 8,273 votes.

Labour declined to field a candidate against Ms Firth in a gesture of respect for Sir David when she stood for election in 2022 after his murder.

Council worker Jodee Conway, 37, expressed the dissatisfaction of many traditional Tory voters who turned away from the party.

She said: ‘I voted Conservative last time, and I was going to vote the same way again because I didn’t want Labour to get in. But then I listened to both sides and ended upvoting for Reform.

‘The manifestos for Conservative and Labour were lacking in clarity, and I got fed up with Rishi and Sir Keir squabbling like kids. It seemed like it was all about them trying to be popular instead of doing what is best for the country.’

Tech operations manager Matt Long, 32, said: ‘I have voted for everyone over the years, but this time round it was Labour. But it was more because I just didn’t want the Tories in power any more rather than really wanting Labour.

‘I know Keir Starmer comes across as quite boring, but we have had personality politics for quite some time now, so boring might be good.’

Caroline Tidd, 39, who works as a nanny, admitted ignoring messages about tactical voting before she voted for Reform UK to try and call a halt to illegal immigration,

She said: ‘I woke up this morning, and heard the news and then I felt, ‘Oh dear’.’

Firefighter Matthew Goodey, 44, said: ‘I have previously voted Conservative, but I was bit indifferent this time.

‘I felt there was nothing really positive in their manifesto It was about them keeping the status quo and staying on the same path. Labour were coming across as the lesser of two evils.

‘I was thinking about voting Green, but I had work commitments so I ended up not voting at all.’

Mother-of-two Suzanne Gray, 62, who has four grandchildren, said: ‘I’m not really surprised that Labour got in – but I wouldn’t have voted for them if my life depended on it.

‘I would have voted Reform, but I knew it would be a wasted vote as it was only ever going to be between the Tories and Conservatives around here.

‘I can’t bear Keir Starmer. He wants to protect everyone apart from the citizens of this country.’

Ms Gray’s old school friend Dawn Stuart, 62, said: ‘I voted Reform. I just want change. I want all the silliness in this country to stop.’

Tory voter Natalie, 44, who works as a personal assistant admitted voting Conservative as she always has done in the past.

She said: ‘To be honest, I am one of the few people who really liked Rishi Sunak. I thought he was honest and had good family values. 

‘I feel concerned going forward. We are going to pay more taxes under Labour and that is a worry with things already being expensive.

‘I am not sure whether Sir Keir Starmer is the right person for the job. I knew he was going to get in, and now we will just have to see what happens.’

Art gallery owner Marcus Mursell, 54, said: ‘I have always been a Conservative and I voted for them again this time. I think they lost it rather than Labour winning it.

‘The Tories have made too many mistakes and just got too complacent. They just need a kick up the backside.

‘I wouldn’t say I was displeased about the election result, but I am concerned about Labour and what they could do. I have three businesses in this community, so of course corporation tax is a big worry for me.’

Mr Mursell’s daughter Britani who works with him, said; ‘It is time for change. The Tories were just spending money in the wrong places.

‘Things like the housing market and student loans in this country are absolutely insane. Nobody can live on the minimum wage.’

Others who were more enthusiastic about Labour’s victory included Kim Probets, 48, who said: ‘I have always voted Labour, so I am delighted with the result. 

‘I lost my mum in lockdown and couldn’t have a proper funeral for her when the Tories were all partying.

‘I didn’t realise this was such a Conservative area when I moved here three years ago, but I sensed that Labour was going to win here. A lot of friends who were previously Conservative told me they were changing to Labour.

‘It was for all sorts of reasons. Some were disappointed about how Brexit had gone and others were concerned about the cost of living crisis.’

Retired teacher Chris Gregory, 62, who refused to say how he voted, added: ‘I have been through three Conservative MPs here. 

‘I knew David Amess very well and he was very nice, but Anna Firth only seemed interested in being photographed.

‘People decided it was time to change. I am looking forward to someone who will do something for the area’.

Podiatry clinic owner Daniel Waddington said: ‘This has always been a solidly Conservative area. I voted Tory when David Cameron in – but I didn’t support David Amess saying no to abortion laws and gay marriage. I felt it was time for change and voted Labour this time.’

Painter and decorator Richard Rutter, 49, admitted voting Labour after previously flirting with the idea of supporting Reform UK.

But he added: ‘A lot of friends and family didn’t vote at all because they didn’t want to vote Conservative or Labour.

‘They just didn’t think anyone would change anything. There is so much declining in this country. The local council has cut down on groundworks, and my mum has arthritis and has to go to a private hospital for treatment.’

Freelance creative director Anthony Hurlstone, 41, said: ‘I was down the middle, not knowing whether to go Labour or Green. 

‘But the Labour candidate was doing house-to-house canvassing and he came round to us. He was very personable, so I decided to vote for him.’

Mr Hurlstone’s partner Kerry Marmion, 41, added: ‘I am glad Anna Firth has gone. I wrote to her about the situation in Gaza last October and again in March, and I just got the same standard reply each time. 

‘I voted Green, but I am glad Labour have taken over.’

Another council worker called Jade, 34, who previously voted Conservative said she was also swayed by Labour candidate Mr Barton-Simpson’s strong campaign, and voted for him.

She said: ‘He came round to my house and no other candidates did. I quite like him. I think his policies around the environment sat well with my beliefs. 

‘I was not surprised when he won. Things cannot get any worse than they are, so let’s try something new.’

Ed Warr, 31, who works as a plumber, said: ‘I voted Labour against my mother’s wishes. 

‘I liked what Sir Keir was saying about giving a lot of money to the NHS. It is going to be interesting to see what he does about immigration

‘I voted Tory before, but I thought the country needed a change after being Conservative for so long.’

DARTFORD – TORY FOR PAST 14 YEARS

LABOUR GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE 

1. Labour, Jim Dickson – 15,392 (34.6%)
2. Conservative, Gareth Johnson – 14,200 (31.9%)
3. Reform UK, Lee Stranders – 9,523 (21.4%)
4. Green, Laura Edie – 3,189 (7.2%)
5. Liberal Democrat, Kyle Marsh – 2,184 (4.9%)

The ‘Farage effect’ which split the Tory vote was the reason two previous safe Parliamentary seats in Kent fell to Labour, according to angry voters.

Many former Tory voters told MailOnline they had become ‘disillusioned’ with the party and wanted to change.

But despite both Dartford and Gravesham falling to Labour, many voters said it was the appeal of Nigel Farage’s Reform UK which was why they switched sides.

A mix of issues including the small boats crisis and cost of living was the reason they said they deserted Rishi Sunak’s Conservatives.

Dartford went Labour for the first time in 14 years and Gravesham for 19 years.

Single full-time dad Mark Sutherland, 48, voted Reform after many years of voting for Tory.

The Dartford resident of 39 years said: ‘It was time for change and something different. The Tory Party had their chance and after 14 years I felt it was time for something else.

‘The plan was not to get Labour though. I did not want that to happen.

‘But Farage is in, it’s absolutely the Farage effect. There are other Reform MPs and in a few years at the next election they will be an even bigger force.

‘They have a big chance to make a difference. I voted because they have more about them and want to make a difference for the older generation. They have been neglected I think.

‘The NHS is also on its knees. I voted for Boris Johnson previously but I could not vote for Sunak.’

Mark Reynolds, 55, of Gravesend, also voted Reform after being a lifelong Tory.

The builder said: ‘I don’t think the Tory’s were putting the country first. British people were being neglected. It had to be the turn of someone else.

‘Labour is not the answer. But we have to try and get a change and I think Reform can do well.

‘I think Farage could shake up the country for the better. What is happening with the Channel is a disgrace. We have given up. There needs to be a fresh approach.’

Retired builder Michael Wellington, 62, said he voted Reform for the first time as well.

Mr Wellington, who has lived in Dartford for 30 years, said: ‘I am not a fan of Farage but it needed to be someone else.

‘I don’t think much of any of them. I think most of it is a sham. It’s a very sad state of affairs.’

Paul Winter, 55, said the small boat crisis was his reason for voting Reform.

The Gravesend electrician said: ‘I dread to think how much we have had to pay as taxpayers to fund all of what has been happening in Dover and then what happens after with accommodation.

‘We could have put that into policing, or opportunities for young people or the army. The immigration system is a huge joke.’

Jatim Kumar, 24, voted Labour for the first time. The Dartford chippy worker said: ‘I think the Tory Party had their chance and I wanted something new for the country.

‘They offer hope for younger people like me. We need hope in the country. There is a cost of living crisis and all sorts of problems.’

Van driver Scott Chester voted only for the second time in his life and picked Labour.

The 45-year-old Dartford resident said: ‘I just wanted rid of the Conservative Party.

‘It was the lockdown parties in Number 10, all of the cost of living problems and just one rule for them and one rule for us.

‘They have crashed the country. I think it will take Labour quite a while but I believe we will see a change. They will make a difference. But it will not happen overnight. People need to be patient.’

Green Party voter Steph Baker had spent the evening having a party as a result of the Tories leaving office.

The fire panel manufacturer, 39, said: ‘I have had a few drinks to celebrate.

‘It’s great they are gone. I voted Green and always do. They’ll never get in round here in Dartford but it is worth a go.

‘I support their policies. The Tory Party have crashed everything. So much needs to be rebuilt. I think Greens look after the little people.’

READING WEST AND MID BERKSHIRE – FORMER TORY STRONGHOLD

LABOUR GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE 

1. Labour, Olivia Bailey – 16,273 (35.0%)
2. Conservative, Ross Mackinnon – 14,912 (32.0%)
3. Reform UK, Kate Bosley – 6,260 (13.4%)
4. Liberal Democrat, Helen Belcher – 5,103 (11.0%)
5. Green, Carolyne Culver – 3,169 (6.8%)
6. Independent, Adrian Abbs – 562 (1.2%)
7. Independent, Adie Peppiatt – 272 (0.6%)

Residents in the Berkshire town of Reading – a former Tory stronghold which saw the party wiped out this morning – have shared a lack of enthusiasm for the incoming Labour government.

The Conservatives lost two constituencies in Reading – previously the safe seats of Tory grandees Sir Alok Sharma and Sir John Redwood – and now have no foothold in the commuter belt town, after boundary changes which had reconfigured two of their traditional constituencies.

In one of the newly created constituencies, Reading West and Mid Berkshire, Conservative councillor Ross Mackinnon lost out to Labour’s Olivia Bailey – after the Tory vote share plummeted by 24.8 percentage points.

Alok Sharma, the former President for Cop26, had held the previous constituency of Reading West since 2010, but announced he was no longer running this year.

Patrick Ryan, an engineer from Tilehurst, one of the major settlements in Reading West and Mid Berkshire, said the result was: ‘It was expected but I am fearful for the next four years.

Mr Ryan said he had been out working since 6am and had not been following the election, so he was not aware of the full-scale of the Tory defeat.

But he said of the Conservatives: ‘They hit hard times through Covid, they have had to borrow and support the country through all those bad times – a lot of people got rich out of that – and now they are paying the price.

‘But that is what it is like in politics, it goes round and round, we will have Labour for the next 10 to 14 years and then it will go back to the Conservatives. Pretty cynical, but unfortunately that is the truth of the matter.’

Similarly the Tories lost in the new constituency of Earley and Woodley, which featured parts of the old Wokingham constituency which had elected John Redwood – who served as Secretary of State for Wales in John Major’s government at every general election since 2010.

Popular local candidate Pauline Jorgensen, the leader of the Conservative group in Wokingham Borough Council, was unable to prevent the Conservative vote share slipping by 11 percentage points.

Ms Jorgensen narrowly lost by just 848 votes to former Financial Times journalist Yuan Yang, for Labour.

Ms Yang had run a frenetic campaign, during which her father planted hundreds of stakes featuring a Labour flag in gardens across the south of Reading.

One Earley woman who did not wish to be named, speaking in Shinfield, said she was ‘shocked’.

‘I thought Conservatives would get in’, the woman said, adding she was disappointed.

‘I wanted Pauline to get in’, she added. ‘I am not really a massive follower of it all, but the country is in a mess, but so is the whole of Europe and so is the whole of the world really.’

Woodley resident Phyl Edwards, who was out shopping in her local high street, said: ‘It was predicted really, though I am not too keen on Keir Starmer, I do not trust him actually.

‘But let’s hope they are going to do great things for the world, because we all want a bit of extra money, especially us pensioners.

‘I think the government has let us down really, we would not be able to get away with some of those things they did and they are supposed to rule us. As you get older you think, they are like children really playing, all they do is argue against each other.

‘We definitely want our national health back, we are all suffering for that. Both of my granddaughters have gone into teaching and I want a better place for them. My daughter has got a mortgage. We had the best time in our age really.’

But Reem Britton-Finnie said she was ‘happy with the change’ now that Labour had come into power.

‘I am just waiting to see what Starmer does, because as much as I am a Labour fan through and through, him I am unsure.’

Ms Britton-Finnie, who works for the youth offending service, praised the Labour candidate for Earley and Woodley for being ‘the most present of the candidates in this area’ and said she was confident in voting for her.

The Woodley resident added she was not surprised at the scale of the Conservative loss, adding: ‘I think we are in a bit of mess at the moment and people were just voting for something to change it.

‘I think they were just voting for anything that they thought was going to be a change and they saw Labour as that opportunity.

‘Others’ manifestos, they may have aligned with more but they thought that they were not going to get in power so they have gone with Labour as a tactical choice.’

BANBURY – FIRST LABOUR MP IN HISTORY

LABOUR GAIN FROM CONSERVATIVE 

1. Labour, Sean Woodcock – 18,468 (38.3%)
2. Conservative, Victoria Prentis – 15,212 (31.6%)
3. Reform UK, Paul Topley – 6,284 (13.0%)
4. Liberal Democrat, Liz Adams – 4,352 (9.0%)
5. Green, Arron Baker – 2,615 (5.4%)
6. Independent, Cassi Bellingham – 850 (1.8%)
7. Climate Party, Chris Nevile – 242 (0.5%)
8. Social Democratic Party, Declan Soper – 155 (0.3%)

Local residents have offered their opinions after the Banbury parliamentary constituency turned red for the first time in UK General Election history.

Claire Jarvis, 65, and the owner of ‘thefibreworks’ in Chipping Norton, which is part of the constituency, said Labour had put in the hard work to win the voters.

She said: ‘They did, they really did put a lot of resources into winning this seat. At the start of the campaign, it was thought: ‘if we have a really brilliant night, maybe we could get Banbury.’

‘However, then their belief grew as the campaign went on and the Conservatives kept – well frankly – screwing up. A friend of ours said to us ‘Rishi Sunak is the gift that keeps giving in this (Labour) campaign.’

‘We’ve got quite a lot of activists. You’ve got a very active Labour Party in Chipping Norton that also encompasses Charlbury. So we’ve got people who are accustomed to getting out there and pounding the streets.

‘Being out and about canvassing, I think the only other party we’ve met on the doorsteps have been the Liberal Democrats in Charlbury.

Ms Jarvis, who has lived in Chipping Norton for 30 years and is a trustee of local charity The Lido, added: ‘I remember the night of the 1997 election and the euphoria of Blair winning but I haven’t really had a happy election experience since then.

Ms Jarvis is a Labour supporter.

Emma Cockburn, a member of staff at a children’s shoes and clothing shop, said: ‘I’m very relieved that Labour is now in power. I’m so relieved that the other lot are out.

‘I think Keir Starmer will do a lot of good and I hope he really helps rural communities as well.

‘I hope the NHS is going to benefit from somebody who seems to care more about it and there won’t be so much underhandedness and ‘jobs for their mates. I’m just really relieved that Labour are in and the Tories are out.’

Ms Cockburn, a Labour supporter, was asked why she believed the area had turned to Labour. She replied: ‘I know for a lot of local people – and being a local parent – you can’t afford to live in the area now.

‘Everywhere is being bought up and you’ve got people coming from London – weekenders – buying all the nice properties. Or (buying) affordable properties, doing them up, so young people have just got to move away from the area.

‘I’m hoping with Labour the future will be fairer and there will be more opportunities for everybody.’

A 75-year-old man, who asked to remain anonymous, said: ‘It was expected (the election result) because the sheep follow the leader. I didn’t expect anything less.’

The man, who voted for an independent candidate, said this was in reference to both the local and nationwide election.

A Chipping Norton resident, who works in a local public house, said: ‘It is a sorry state of affairs when you vote for the party that will make the least mistakes, rather than the party you want to vote for.’

Another Chipping Norton resident, 47-year-old Emma, said: ‘It’s no major surprise, I think relief and a sense of ‘okay, maybe the tide is changing for the better’ will now prevail.

‘I guess it’s a bit of a surprise that – the landslide was predicted – but it was a big one. It makes me feel slightly more hopeful that this isn’t such a tweed, twinset kind of area – that it is a bit more diverse and progressive. So that’s a good thing.’

Emma, who is self-employed, said she voted for the Labour candidate. She added: ‘Labour – my partner and I both are Labour supporters..

‘It was a tactical thing to make sure that that Labour won the seats and I think that probably holds true for a lot of our friends that we voted tactically, rather than necessarily what our prime number one was.

Emma gave her reasoning for the big shift to Labour for the first time in Banbury. She added: ‘I think it’s definitely a nationwide thing. But in terms of locally – although this is an incredibly affluent area, it’s quite a bipolar area and there’s a lot of deprivation here and people really struggle – the food bank is very busy.

‘You’ve got very – on paper – very professional people earning a good wage that cannot afford to buy a house. Two professional wages coming in and you still struggle.

‘You can’t see your dentist – all of those things that people have been talking about and you can’t get a GP or dental appointment and that’s scary. I think it’s just people reaching that point of ‘wow, I cannot do any more of this, something has to change.’

‘It is less about what the change is – it just had to be changed.’