Labour win Batley and Spen by-election by 323 votes

Labour’s Kim Leadbeater is the new MP for the Batley and Spen constituency in West Yorkshire after winning the by-election with a 35.3% share of the vote, a majority of just 323.

The Conservatives, who were expected to take the seat, especially after their victory in May’s Hartlepool by-election, finished second with 34.4% of the vote.

Their candidate Ryan Stephenson received 12,973 votes compared to Labour’s 13,296.

Former MP George Galloway, who famously won the Bradford West by-election in 2012 for the Respect Party, came third after winning 8,264 votes, a total of 21.9%

The by-election, which saw a turnout of 47.6%, was called as former MP Tracy Brabin resigned from the role after becoming the first directly-elected Mayor of West Yorkshire in May.

Ms Leadbetter is the sister of former Batley and Spen MP Jo Cox, who was tragically murdered by a far-right extremist in the constituency in June 2016.

Speaking at the declaration, Ms Leadbeater said:

“I want to say a huge thank you to the police, who sadly I have needed more than ever over the last few weeks.

“And I want to say a huge thank you to the whole Labour Party team for the hours and the time and the commitment they have put in to supporting me and helping me to get to this fantastic result this evening.

She added: “There’s lots to do and I think the campaign has highlighted that there’s lots to do. But I’m going to crack on with it and I will do my very best to represent the whole of Batley and Spen as their new MP.

“I’m absolutely delighted that the people of Batley and Spen have rejected division and they’ve voted for hope.”

The campaign was bad tempered and their were reports of violence and allegations of dirty tricks during it.

Batley and Spen by-election results