Former council leader ousts Tory health minister as Lib Dems sweeps over Sussex

Tory minister Maria Caulfield has been ousted from Lewes after James MacCleary became the latest Lib Dem MP in a yellow tidal wave sweeping Sussex.

Former Lewes council leader Mr MacCleary ousted Ms Caulfield, taking a majority of over 12,000 votes after losing narrowly in 2019.

Ms Caulfield, a staunch supporter of Boris Johnson, now steps aside after first winning the seat nine years ago.

Mr MacCleary, who is also a Lewes District and East Sussex County councillor, takes the Lib Dem-Tory marginal seat back after Lib Dem Norman Baker lost the seat to Ms Caulfield in 2015.

In 2019, Ms Caulfield won again, with a majority of less than 3,000 votes.

Mr MacCleary had previously committed to “banging the drum” for Lewes, Seaford and the other towns and villages in the constituency.

His success comes as a tidal wave of Lid Dem MPs swept Conservative candidates across the Sussex coast – including more Tory ministers.

Gillian Keegan became one of the big election scalps of the night when she lost her seat to Lib Dem Jess Brown-Fuller in Chichester.

Meanwhile, in Eastbourne, Josh Babarinde OBE took the Eastbourne constituency from Caroline Ansell.

The Lib Dems also saw success in Mid Sussex and Horsham.