Five takeaways from Surrey’s general election results
- Published
After weeks of canvassing and debating, the people of Surrey have voted.
Across 12 constituencies, voters have gone to the polls in the general election, which has seen the Labour Party claim a landslide victory.
Both the Liberal Democrats and the Conservative Party have six seats each in Surrey.
So what did we learn? Here are five takeaways from the results, with all the results available in our live page here.
1. Jeremy Hunt narrowly wins seat
Jeremy Hunt has won in Godalming and Ash with a majority of just 891 (1.6%) votes after a number of recounts.
He would have been the first chancellor in modern history to lose their seat.
Speaking on the declaration of his win, he said the election had been a "crushing defeat" for the Conservatives.
“Don’t be sad, this is the magic of democracy," he added.
He said Keir Starmer and Rachel Reeves were "decent people who have changed Labour for the better" and "we all now need them to succeed".
2. The rise of the Lib Dems
The Lib Dems have made significant gains in Surrey, winning six seats - Epsom and Ewell, Woking, Esher and Walton, Guildford, Dorking and Horley, and Surrey Heath.
In Guildford, Lib Dem candidate Zoe Franklin received 22,937 votes. The now former Tory MP, Angela Richardson, won 14,508 votes, which was 30.04% of the votes.
The Lib Dems have taken a record number of seats for the party in the election nationwide.
3. Surrey Heath won by non-Tory for first time
The Lib Dems have won in Surrey Heath - the first time the seat has been won by a non-Conservative candidate.
Al Pinkerton got 21,387 votes, which is 44.75%. The Conservatives’ Ed McGuinness came in second place with 15,747 votes (32.95%).
Mr Pinkerton captured the former seat of Tory levelling up secretary Michael Gove, who did not seek re-election.
4. Conservatives hold some seats
The Conservatives have held on to seats in Spelthorne, Farnham and Bordon, and Runnymede and Weybridge.
Spelthorne was the seat of former chancellor Kwasi Kwarteng, but he stepped down at this election.
Lincoln Jopp, the new Conservative MP, got 14,038 votes. In second place was Labour’s Claire Tighe, who got 12,448 votes.
5. Dominic Raab’s former seat won by Lib Dems
Dominic Raab’s former seat, Esher and Walton, has been won by the Lib Dems by a majority of 12,003 and more than 50% of the vote share.
The new Lib Dem MP, Monica Harding, won the vote with 28,315 votes, while the Tory candidate John Cope came second with 16,312 votes.
Reform UK came third, followed by Labour.
Follow BBC Surrey on Facebook, external and X, external. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@bbc.co.uk , external or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250.
Related stories
- Published5 July