Labour’s Laura Kyrke-Smith has been elected as the MP for Aylesbury by just 630 votes, ousting incumbent Tory MP Rob Butler who finished in second place.
The sports hall of Stoke Mandeville Stadium in Aylesbury, where the votes were counted, erupted in huge cheers when the result was read out.
Kyrke-Smith won 15,081 votes, while Butler took 14,451 and Liberal Democrat Steve Lambert came third with 10,440.
The turnout from an electorate of 79,169 was 63 per cent – which is higher than the national average – but lower than that of the previous four elections in Aylesbury.
In her victory speech, Kyrke-Smith said: “It is a huge honour to be elected as your first ever Labour MP and first ever female MP.”
The new MP thanked her ‘incredible’ team of volunteers and said she was proud of the ‘kind and respectful’ campaign they had fought.
Kyrke-Smith acknowledged that she had taken the seat from the Tories and that many voters had lent Labour their support for the first time.
She added: “I am conscious that a lot of people have placed their trust in Labour for the very first time and it is something that I don’t take lightly.
“I will serve you all respectfully and inclusively. Keir Starmer has changed the Labour Party. We will govern as a changed Labour Party.”
After her speech, the new MP said she would put health at the top of the agenda for the people of Aylesbury.
She told the Local Democracy Reporting Service (LDRS): “The NHS is a real priority. It has come up so much in my conversations with residents over the last six weeks.
“So many people are frustrated they can’t see their GP. So many people are waiting too long for appointments at Stoke Mandeville.”
Kyrke-Smith also said her family had been ‘brilliant’ and ‘tolerant’ of her not being around as much as she would have liked.
She added: “We need to get to work. There is lots to do.”
Reform UK’s Lesley Taylor came fourth in Aylesbury with 6,746 votes, followed by Julie Atkins (Green Party) with 2,590, Jan Gajdos (Workers Party of Britain) with 516 and Richard Lewis Wilding (Social Democratic Party) with 116.
A total of 50,154 votes were cast in Aylesbury, while 213 ballots were rejected.
The LDRS requested an interview with Butler, who declined before leaving the sports hall where the votes were being counted.
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