South Suffolk General Election 2024: Conservatives hold South Suffolk seat with MP James Cartlidge despite Labour competition
The Conservatives have held onto the South Suffolk constituency in the General Election following tonight’s count at Endeavour House in Ipswich.
James Cartlidge secured 16,082 votes over his Labour opponent Emma Bishton who scored 13,035.
The other votes were as follows: Beverley England (Reform UK) 9,252; Tom Bartleet (Liberal Democrat) 6,424 and Jessie Carter (Green) 4,008.
Mr Cartlidge won the constituency in 2019 with a 22,897 majority after scoring 33,270 votes and has held the seat since May 2015.
Celebrating his hold, despite the fact Labour is set to form the next Government, Mr Cartlidge said: “This has been the toughest election out the three elections I’ve been at and I want to say a huge thank you to my team.
“I’m immensely proud and chuffed to have got this result. I need to re-earn that trust and keep fighting for those people that voted.
“I want to say thank you to those of you in Suffolk South for voting for me. It’s a special privilege to be an MP especially in this beautiful constituency and I will keep doing my bit.
“On the national scene, it’s been an extraordinary evening and a hugely disappointing night for our party and I hope the Labour party continue to show the support for Ukraine that we’ve shown.”
Ms Bishton said: “Personally I’m very disappointed of course but nationally things are looking really good.
“We’ve taken away some of their numbers and we feel relatively satisfied.
“I just want to thank people for turning out and voting.
“We have to keep helping people and we need to make it work for so many so hopefully our incoming Labour government can hopefully make change in this country.”
Labour 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.
