News / Politics
Norris gains North East Somerset & Hanham from Rees-Mogg
On a forgettable night of results for many incumbent Conservatives MPs, Jacob Rees-Mogg has lost his seat to the Labour rival from whom he won the seat off 14 years ago.
The result was closely monitored nationally and received the support of some leading Labour politicians such as Andy Burnham who visited the area less than week to the polling day to bolster Norris’ campaign to oust the Tory grandee.
The result means that Norris will be the MP for North East Somerset & Hanham while holding the office at West of England Combined Authority (WECA) as its metro mayor concurrently.
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Norris beat Rees-Mogg with 20,739 votes to his 15,420. Reform UK, whose voters Rees-Mogg had urged to support him as they would get “90% of what they want,” scooped 7,424 votes — enough to have made the difference if they had backed the Conservatives.
In his concession speech, Rees-Mogg congratulated Norris and Labour leader Keir Starmer and thanked his team and constituency staff.
He ended by quoting Chitty Chitty Bang Bang inventor Caracatus Potts: “From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success.” He then had to contend with a media scrum which chased him out of the building.
In his acceptance speech, Norris thanked supporters, adding: “I also want to thank Jacob Rees-Mogg. He has done a very good job in supporting his constituency — up until now obviously. I know exactly how that feels because Mr Rees-Mogg gave me that compliment 14 years ago and I have been able to return that.”
Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he added: “It’s my intention to carry on but what I was never going to do was talk about not being the regional mayor until the electorate had a chance to decide what I was going to do as the MP because I would not be so arrogant or disrespectful to assume that.
“They have made their verdict known now. They know I am the regional mayor.
“I now have to get some sleep and then reflect on what has happened and work our how I can best serve the people of North East Somerset and Hanham and the West of England.”
In North East Somerset and Hanham, as in many areas across the country, a swing from Conservatives to Reform had been a factor in Labour’s performance around the country.
Norris said: “I think any politician who goes away — even though there’s going to be a big Labour landslide — thinking that politicians have given them a big slap on the back would be very foolish.
“Because what became clear in the campaign was the public were very kind and courteous to me but they are very disillusioned with politics and politicians as a whole. And what I take away from that is integrity and honesty are now essential requirements to reinstate in our political system.”
The Liberal Democrats, who fielded veteran local councillor and former council leader Dine Romero, came fourth with 3,878 votes.
Speaking as the votes were coming in, Romero said: “Nationally, it’s fantastic to hear what’s being predicted for the Lib Dems. […] Obviously I’m disappointed it appears I may not be part of that team but we will keep on battling.”
Coming last in the seat was Barmy Brunch, the Monster Raving Loony Party candidate, with 211 votes. He stood on a platform of bringing in a statutory brunch hour but also doing more on mental health, wearing a striking balaclava patterned with baked beans and breakfast foods.
The results in full are:
Dan Norris (Labour) 20,739 (40.57%)
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg (Conservative) 15,420 (30.16%)
Paul MacDonnell (Reform) 7,424 (14.52%)
Dine Romero (Liberal Democrat) 3,878 (7.59%)
Edmund Cannon (Green) 3,222 (6.30%)
Nicholas Hales (Independent) 231 (0.45%)
Barmy Brunch (Monster Raving Loony Party) 211 (0.41%
John Wimperis is a Local Democracy Reporter
Main photo: John Wimperis
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