Labour candidate Olivia Bailey WINS Reading West and Mid Berks

Olivia Bailey <i>(Image: NQ)</i>
Olivia Bailey (Image: NQ)

Labour candidate Olivia Bailey has won Reading West and Mid Berkshire.

After a six-week campaign, Ms Bailey has pipped her closest political rival Conservative Ross MacKinnon to the post with 14,912 votes to her 16,273.

The voter turnout for the newly formed constituency was 67.8 per cent, fractionally down from 68 per cent in 2019 in its previous formation.

Speaking at the count, she said it was an "honour" and she couldn't wait to get started representing the constituency.

Speaking to the Chronicle, Ms Bailey said: “I am so delighted, proud and humbled and just so determined to live up to the trust that people have put into today.”

Reacting to the overall night that has seen Labour secure a majority and return to power for the first time in 14 years, she said: “It has been a fantastic night for Labour. You know, it's changed. The Labour Party is going to be a government focused on serving work for people getting our public services back on track and securing our economy.”