Yahoo News General Election 2024: Labour's Melanie Onn wins Great Grimsby & Cleethorpes as Martin Vickers takes Brigg & Immingham
Labour's Melanie Onn has been elected as MP for Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes with a majority of almost 5,000 votes while the new Brigg & Immingham seat was won by Conservative Martin Vickers.
In Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Reform UK candidate Oliver Freeston pushed the Conservatives into third place. Ms Onn won with 15,336 votes, Mr Freeston polled 10,533 votes, while the Conservatives' Lia Nici got the support of 8,269 voters.
In Brigg & Immingham, Mr Vickers won with just over 3,000 votes more than nearest rival Najmul Hussain of Labour.
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It comes amid a landslide general election victory for the Labour who are on track to win more than 400 seats.
Ms Onn thanked her supporters, saying: "In 2015, I was elected as the first woman to represent my hometown in Parliament. Today, I stand before you as the first MP to represent this new constituency, the best constituency in the UK, Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes. Words are not enough to express how thankful I am to everyone who voted for me."
She added: "Friends, this is a good night for the Labour party and a good night for the country. There is now much to be done and we will not achieve it all as quickly as we would like.
"But our vision of a fairer, more equal society, built on economic stability, where all citizens can thrive, is clear. We see a future where communities have new powers to determine their own future, where our NHS and schools once again excel and businesses, big and small, work in partnership with the government to bring investment, jobs and wealth.
"We also have a clear plan to tackle climate change and transition to a carbon-free economy, an opportunity that we here on the banks of the Humber must seize. We can be world leaders in these new energy technologies.
"Our opportunities are defined only by the limitation of our ambitions. Finally, Great Grimsby and Cleethorpes are now united, speaking with one voice, a Labour voice. I shall make you one promise, that I shall work tirelessly to repair the divisions of the past, so our citizens can live their best lives."
After finishing in second place, Reform UK candidate Oliver Freeston said: “My team put in an amazing effort, I’m so grateful for the support I’ve had and the friends I’ve gained along the way. What’s clear is the country needs change and although I’ve not been elected to champion that, I sincerely wish Melanie the best of luck and hope that she can make a difference. Thank you to everyone who put their faith in me, we did our best."
Following his win in the Brigg & Immingham constituency for the Conservatives, Martin Vickers said the results nationally were “disappointing.” He said: “I like to think the work I have done over the years in the constituency has been a decent job.”
He added: “I’m delighted to have secured a fifth term and to be able to improve the lot of people, the local economy and combat anti social behaviour.” The 73 year old said: “I would not like to retire. I’m not the retiring type. I enjoy meeting people and working with people, especially case work when people come to my surgery with issues.”
