ELECTION 2010: Results - Westminster North and Cities of London and Westminster
Aftermath of Karen Buck's victory - plus Mark Field holds on to Conservative seat for Cities of London and Westminster
Published: 7 May 2010
by JOSIE HINTON
“TO be honest I had written a losing speech,” admitted an emotional Karen Buck this morning, as she defied all the odds to clinch a nail-biting victory in Westminster North.
Beating Conservative rival Joanne Cash by 2,126 votes – a 0.6 per cent swing away from Labour – she will now enter her fourth term in parliament.
While Ms Cash, who had shown a degree of complacency in the weeks leading up to polling day, blamed the media for her defeat – Ms Buck put it down to old-fashioned pavement politics.
And as red rosettes were flung into the air, Ms Cash left the stage amid boos and heckles.
Speaking at the Queen Mother Sports Centre in Victoria, a teary-eyed Ms Buck said: “I’m completely blown away given what we’ve been watching with the early part of the news. I thought I had lost, not by much but I thought I had.
“We had 250 people working and giving their all to the campaign. We contacted 18,000 people, which is unheard of, and I felt it was going to be very close. But I felt it might have slipped away at the end.
“I’m thrilled to have the privilege to once again represent this constituency. I hope everyone has enjoyed working so hard, we have pounded the streets in competition for this constituency. It hasn’t been the best night so far for the Labour but I know we will re-group and I’m delighted to know that some of that re-grouping will start in Westminster.”
During a speech in which Ms Cash accused Westminster’s media of peddling lies about her family, she said: “"This is a very strange night up and down the country, there are very strange results everywhere. But the Westminster North media played an incredibly powerful role, and we have to face the question about what their role will be going forward. Are they going to tell the truth or are they going to trash people, lie about their families. And hello to my family who are watching.
"This probably is the only chance I will get to put the record straight and it's not conventional to do so at a time like this but I want to do. Whatever the result through the rest of country, the rest of night, the Conservatives have a vision for this country and I hope we can find a way to implement that.''
Lib Dem candidate Mark Blackburn’s share of the vote dropped by 5.7 per cent to 13.9 per cent. In his speech he paid tribute to his Labour rival, saying: “I have say Karen Buck you’ve misquoted me – you “are” not “were” a very good MP and Westminster North deserves you.”
In the other of the borough’s constituencies, Cities of London and Westminster, Conservative Mark Field comfortably retained his seat with 19,264 votes giving him an overall majority of 52.2 per cent – up 3.9 per cent.
Fighting for second place, Labour’s Dave Rowntree pipped Liberal Democrat Naomi Smith to the post with 8,188 votes to her 7,574.
Mr Field said: “It was a long and winding road here. I dedicate this victory to the greatest inspiration in my life – my two year old son.”
CITIES OF LONDON AND WESTMINSTER RESULT:
Mark Field (Conservative) 19,264
David Rowntree (Labour) 8,188
Naomi Smith (Lib Dem) 7,574
Derek Chase (Green) 778
Paul Weston (UKIP) 664
Frank Roseman (English Democrats) 191
Dennis Delderfield (Independent) 98
Jack Nunn (Pirate Party UK) 90
Mad Cap'n Tom (Independent) 84
TOTAL GOOD VOTES: 36931
TURN OUT: 55.5
CLICK HERE FOR RESULTS FOR WESTMINSTER NORTH: