John Glen keeps Conservative seat in Salisbury to continue 14-year run

JOHN Glen has kept his parliamentary seat in Salisbury to continue his run of 14 years as the city's MP.

The Conservative politician secured the Salisbury constituency seat with  17,110 votes.

Labour's Matt Aldridge came second with 13,303 votes while Lib Dem's Victoria Charleston secured 11,825 votes.

In 2019, Mr Glen received 30,280 votes, 19,736 more than Victoria Charleston, who that year finished second.

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Mr Glen is one of just over 70 Conservative MPs who have kept their seat (as of 5am on July 5) amid an enormous Labour majority across the country.

John Glen. (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

Mr Glen arrived at the count just after 3.30am and said: "It's been a long and gruelling campaign.

"I've had fantastic support from my team here and we've covered the length and breadth of the constituency several times."

In his winning speech he thanked his campaign team and other candidates.

He said: "Most of all I'd like to thank my campaign manager Dr, Mark McClelland and the team that has supported me.

"Tonight the country as a whole voted for change, I acknowledge that and I would like to congratulate my friends in the Salisbury Labour Party who will be celebrating that national labour result tonight.

"I am delighted to be elected for the fifth time for Salisbury and South Wiltshire, I will continue to take a constructive and collaborative approach to public service.

"I will continue to work as hard as I can. I will support what I can in the new government. I will scrutinise carefully what I cannot support but I will always remember that I am here to serve the people of Salisbury and I thank you for the privilege of representing you again."

The Salisbury constituency had a voter turnout of 50,347 which is 70.12 per cent of the population. This was lower than the 72 per cent turnout in 2019.