Labour make history with first MPs in Bournemouth

LABOUR created history on Friday morning by winning in both Bournemouth seats in the general election.

Jessica Toale and Tom Hayes were victorious in bids for parliament, winning Bournemouth West and East respectively.

Sir Conor Burns – first elected in 2010 – lost by more than 3,000 votes to Mrs Toale and Tobias Ellwood - first elected in 2005 – lost by more than 5,000 to Mr Hayes.

New MP Mrs Toale, who had been a sitting councillor in Soho, told the Echo she will resign that seat “as was always the plan”.

She added: “Thanks to the people in Bournemouth for putting their faith in Tom and I. We know it was a big ask, we know we were chasing big majorities.

“But it just goes to show that the campaigns we ran were extremely positive, focused on the change we want to see in Bournemouth and a lot of people came along with us.”

Meanwhile, Sir Conor, who has been the MP since 201, blamed the ousting of former prime minister Boris Johnson and replacing him with Liz Truss for his party’s poor results.

Sir Conor said he had a feeling for some time things had been bad for his party: “My view is, don't have a prime minister who led us to the biggest electoral success since Mrs Thatcher in 1987, then inflict Liz Truss on the country and then expect to carry on and win the general election.”

In Bournemouth East, Mr Hayes – a former Oxford councillor - said the result was “phenomenal”, adding: “I’m really pleased with it, and I think it shows the people of Bournemouth want change.

“They have responded to a campaign that has been active for many, many months, we’ve knocked on lots of doors, had lots of conversations, and we’ve promised that we won’t let people down, that were listening and that we want to do right by our town.

“It’s great to have the honour to be Bournemouth’s first Labour MP.”

Mr Ellwood was defiant in defeat.

He said: “The closeness of this majority suggests that we shouldn’t be going away, and accepting the result as it is.

“I absolutely do accept the result, but I make it very clear that we are going to regroup here in Bournemouth. I’m not going anywhere.

“I am going to stand again and I will be back.”