'I will be your champion' pledges new Lib Dem MP after narrow win in Eastleigh

Newly-elected Liberal Democrat MP Liz Jarvis has said she will “work day in and day out” to meet her pledges after she narrowly beat the Conservatives at the general election.

Ms Jarvis said in her acceptance speech that she would fight for every one of her constituents no matter how they voted.

The Eastleigh seat has been Conservative since 2013, and was held by Paul Holmes until the election.

Liberal Democrat MP Liz Jarvis giving her acceptance speech (Image: NQ, Jose Ramos)

Speaking to the Echo, Ms Jarvis, who won a majority of just over 1,500 votes, said: “I am feeling humbled and honoured, I am so grateful to every single person who voted for me. And to those who didn’t vote for me what I will say is that I promise that I will work incredibly hard to be the best possible MP I can be for Eastleigh.

“I will work day in and day out to fulfil all the pledges I made during the campaign to make it easier for people to access GP appointments; to make sure we have a social care system that works; to stop Southern Water from dumping sewage in our rivers and to make sure people are able to cope with the cost of living.”

Despite the initial exit poll forecasting a clear Lib Dem win, Ms Jarvis narrowly beat her Conservative counterpart, Sam Joynson, by 1546 votes, or 4.8 per cent.

Reacting, she said: “This has been traditionally, you have had several Liberal Democrat MPs and had several Conservative MPs, so we knew it was a two-horse race, we knew it was close and I am just grateful to everyone who voted for me.”

Liberal Democrat MP Liz Jarvis giving her acceptance speech (Image: NQ, Jose Ramos)

Minutes after the results were announced, Ms Jarvis stepped to the podium to thank her supporters, however she also addressed those who did not vote for her saying she would be “your local champion for Eastleigh”.

She said: “I know that many of you were let down and taken for granted by an out-of-touch Conservative government.

"To everyone here in Eastleigh no matter how you voted in this election you have my word I will fight for you all year round and I promise to be your local champion in parliament.

"I am truly humbled by the faith the people of Eastleigh have put in tonight."

Liz Jarvis and her supporters after the announcement she won the Eastleigh seat (Image: NQ, Jose Ramos)

Reacting to the news that the Conservatives narrowly lost to the Liberal Democrats, Conservative candidate for Hamble Valley and former Eastleigh MP Paul Holmes said: "I'm desperately sad for Sam Joynson - he has bucked the Conservative trend and I would love to see him in the Commons.

"It's a disappointing result but I think it shows we can win Eastleigh back at the next election.

"I wait to see whether the new Lib Dem MP will stand up for the people of Eastleigh in the way I believe that Sam would."