Big win for Darren as Labour sweep into government

Darren Jones was returned as the Labour MP for Bristol North West with a greatly increased majority.

Mr Jones gained 15,669 votes more than the second-placed candidate, the Greens’ Mary Page, in the general election on July 4.

Six candidates contested the constituency, where boundary changes meant it lost Lockleaze but gained Bishopston & Ashley Down.

The Conservatives withdrew support from their candidate, Laura Saunders, midway through the campaign after it was revealed she and her husband were being investigated over election betting claims.

After the result was announced, Mr Jones said he was proud to be continuing to represent the area where he grew up and where he has been MP since 2017.

“I have always worked hard to hold the powerful to account on behalf of the powerless, to tackle injustices wherever I find them, and to make the case that Britain can and must be better,” he said.

Mr Jones was later named Chief Secretary to the Treasury in Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet.

In the new Bristol Central constituency, the Green Party co-leader Carla Denyer defeated the former Labour MP Thangam Debbonaire by more than 10,000 votes. Ms Denyer said: “Bristol, you made history. Together we elected our city’s first Green MP. I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who voted Green, I’m incredibly grateful that you put your trust in me. And to everyone who gave your vote to somebody else this time, I’m here for you, ready to listen to you and work hard for you too.”

The Greens also came second in the three other Bristol seats, hugely increasing their party’s share of the votes.

BRISTOL NORTH WEST RESULTS
Darren Jones (Lab) 24,058
Mary Page (Green) 8,389
Laura Saunders (Conservative) 6,773
Scarlett O’Connor (Reform UK) 4,863
Caroline Gooch (LibDem) 4,159
Ben Smith (SDP) 222