'Hard work starts now' vows new Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth

Hard work to rebuild Cornwall and the country as part of a Labour majority Government starts now but there is no magic wand, warns the newly elected Labour MP for Truro and Falmouth Jayne Kirkham. The Falmouth town and Cornwall councillor who snatched the constituency from the Conservative Party from outgoing Tory MP Cherilyn Mackrory with a comfortable 8,000-vote majority, said Truro and Falmouth, and Cornwall as a whole, will have a role to play in the coming days and weeks to put the country back on track after nearly 14 years of Tory government.

The new MP was cheered at the count held at Truro College throughout the night when the results were announced but said the list of issues that need fixing is enormous and the task ahead is vast. The results for the constituency show that Ms Kirkham won 20,783 votes which equates to a 41.35 per cent share of the votes with Cherilyn Mackrory receiving 12,632 votes (25.13 per cent) and Ruth Gripper (Liberal Democrat) receiving 6,552 votes (13.04 per cent), Steve Rubidge (Reform) getting 6,163 votes (12.26 per cent), Karen La Borde (Green) receiving 3,470 votes (6.90 per cent) and finally Peter Lawrence (Independent)- 498 votes (0.99 per cent) and Peter White votes (Liberal) - 166 (0.33 per cent).

The turnout was 50,264 (68.78 per cent) which is down on 2019 when the Conservatives won with 4,459-strong majority and a 75.25 per cent turnout. In her acceptance speech, Ms Kirkhm said: "Truro and Falmouth and Cornwall indeed have so much potential and so much to offer the rest of the country. Our creativity will be so beneficial to the rest of the country."

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She however warned that it won't be easy, adding: "There is so much to do here. We have huge challenges. There are big issues with housing, the NHS, the cost of dentistry, the cost of living, our water and the environment, and low wages.

"These are the things you told me on the doorsteps that need fixing and what your priorities are. The scales of the challenges here are large. There are no magic wands and things will take time but as a Labour MP as part of a Labour government, I can work to ensure that the people of Truro and Falmouth and Cornwall have a strong part to play in a bright future for our country.

"We have had enough of chaotic politics. It's now a time for serious government to deliver for and to serve the people that we represent and rebuild the country together. It's time to get on with the job that you sent me to Westminster to do."

She also told CornwallLive that Cornwall has the potential to show the way for the UK in terms of green growth and hopes that the new GB Energy company set up by Labour and Wealth Fund will benefit the county as it helped deliver such a landslide win for the Labour party.

She added: "It's about getting the skills of our young people up so they can work in these industries and have well-paid jobs right in Cornwall so they can stay if they want and have their career here without the need to leave.

"There is a housing crisis in the county. We want to have an NHS and social care system that works for people. We want to have strong schools, clean water in our rivers and seas."