Bury North general election 2024 results in full

Labour have secured a crucial victory in the key marginal seat of Bury North. James Frith triumphed by almost 7,000 votes over his opponent, Conservative Party deputy chairman James Daly.

Mr Frith, who was Bury North's MP between 2017 and 2019, convincingly won back his old seat after Mr Daly narrowly ousted him by just 105 votes at the last general election. The result is a huge one for the Labour Party as it remains on course for a landslide victory across the country.

The most marginal seat in Britain at the 2019 election, Bury North was one of the party's top targets this time around.

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The constituency, which includes Ramsbottom, Tottington and Bury itself, is traditionally one of the most closely contested in the country. Since the seat was created in 1983, the victorious party in Bury North has tended to end up in government.

It was Tory under Margaret Thatcher then Labour under Tony Blair before swinging back to the Conservatives with David Cameron in Number 10.

The one exception came in 2017 when Labour's James Frith stole the seat from the Conservatives. The Tories regained it just two years later as the party secured a huge majority across the country under Boris Johnson's leadership.

Speaking following his victory, Mr Frith described the result as 'terrific'.

"On a personal level, it's been a long way back since 2019," he said. "As a party, we've heeded that thumping defeat and we've changed the party. Now I hope we'll change Britain."

He said Labour's success nationally showed voters were willing to give the party 'a second chance'.

"Clearly, where we've demonstrated we've changed as a party," he said. "People are ready to put faith in us again.

"I don't think it's a time for getting carried away with celebrations. Even the most vocal of supporters are hard up and fed up. The risk is that people give up on politics."

The dad-of-four said his priorities would be tackling child poverty in Bury North and reducing waiting times at Fairfield General Hospital. He said he hoped to 'restore the faith of those who feel like politics doesn't matter to them'.

"We've got to restore people's faith," he said. "That can only come with action and deeds, not words. I'm looking forward to getting going and proving I'm a deeds and not just a words politician."

Mr Frith's victory came despite the town's Labour leader claiming the party's previous stance on the war in Gaza had 'cost [them] a couple of thousand votes' in Bury North.

A glum-looking Mr Daly left the count via a back door almost immediately after the result was announced at Castle Leisure Centre shortly after 4am.

Mr Frith polled 19,625 votes to Mr Daly's 12,681. Reform UK candidate Lynda Rosewell finished third with 7,385 votes.

Turn-out fell. In 2019, it was 68pc, with this year’s figure standing at 59pc.