Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket General Election 2024: Labour’s Peter Prinsley makes history after winning seat from Conservatives
Labour has made history after winning the Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket constituency in the General Election.
Peter Prinsley secured 16,745 votes over his Conservative opponent Will Tanner who scored 15,293.
It is the first time Labour has won the seat which has historically always voted blue.
The full results were:
- Emma Buckmaster (Green Party) – 5,761
- Jeremy Lee (Independent) – 819
- Peter Prinsley (Labour) – 16,745
- Peter McDonald (Liberal Democrat) – 3,154
- Will Tanner (Conservative) – 15,293
- Scott Hussey (Reform UK) – 8,595
- Darren Turner (Communist Party) – 176
- Richard Baker-Howard (Rejoin EU Party) – 350
Mr Prinsley said the voters had voted for change.
“I think there has never been anything other than a Conservative Member of Parliament for Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket for more than 150 years, so it’s genuinely a historic moment and it seems like the voters have chosen to join the great change, which is coming in this country.
“I feel very privileged to be elected as their MP.
“When I was selected to be the candidate here, I was completely delighted because I knew what a wonderful place it was having visited many times and I was optimistic that we might be able to succeed.
“Of course, this constituency has had a massive Conservative majority for generations and we knew we would be up against it, but when I met the Labour team here, I could see how dedicated and talented they were I knew we would be in for a chance.”
He added: “I do hope I will have something useful to contribute about the many decisions which will need to be made about how we organise the health service.
“I got into politics because of the frustrations I sensed with the health service and I hope very much to be able to make some healthy contributions.”
The 66-year-old, of Norwich, has been an ear, nose and throat surgeon for about 40 years and currently serves at Norfolk and Norwich University Hospital and James Paget Hospital.
The father of three and grandfather is an honorary commander of the United States Airforce 48th Wing medical group at RAF Lakenheath.
He has been a Norwich City councillor since 2023.
Labour is set to form the next Government and is projected to win a predicted 410 seats with a majority of 170 – just short of Tony Blair's 1997 total.
On social media, Labour leader Keir Starmer thanked everyone who voted for his party and put their trust in the changed Labour Party.
The Conservatives were expected to slump to 131 MPs, their lowest number ever.
The turnout in Bury St Edmunds and Stowmarket was 65.14 per cent, down from 69 per cent at the previous national poll in 2019.
