James Cartlidge has secured his position as an MP for the fourth time after defending his seat in South Suffolk.
Mr Cartlidge has been a Conservative MP in the area since 2015, after taking over from Tim Yeo who had held the seat for the Tories since its inception in 1983.
In 2019 he received 33,270 votes or 62.2% of the vote share, but this year that majority fell to just 3,047 votes - this is the slimmest majority in the constituency's history.
In recent years Mr Cartlidge has been a member of both Boris Johnson’s and Rishi Sunak’s governments – serving most recently as Minister of State for Defence Procurement.
After the result, Mr Cartlidge said: "In a day where the national picture has not been so good for our party, I am happy with a majority of even three thousand votes."
He went on to add that he would ensure that the transition of power to the Labour Party is smooth and hopes to ensure that they will champion some of his key issues, such as supporting Ukraine.
He went on to thank the people of South Suffolk and said: "I will keep taking up the issues I have for my constituents while in opposition."
Mr Cartlidge has asked for the possibility of undersea cables, calling for a re-thinking of the national grid and pylons across the county.
The MP says he will advocate for part-time season tickets at football stadiums and a crackdown on illegal immigration and small boat crossing.
Labour's Emma Bishton had followed closely behind Mr Cartlidge, coming in second place.
She said: "I am happy with the nationwide result but obviously sad with the fact that I have not won here today."
She added that she feels the people of South Suffolk are showing how democracy is not working for them, as they cut down the Conservative majority in the seat.
She said that she will ensure she can do something to keep fighting for her voters.
This is the third election that she has taken part in - the first in 2010 where she came third and then in 2017 where she came second.
Meanwhile, Reform's Bev England came in third place with 9,252 votes.
She is however glad that Mr Cartlidge kept his seat, as that is who she preferred to win, after herself.
Speaking before the results, she said: “I think the people have spoken that they want Reform, and we will be a fierce opposition to whoever wins tonight.”
Her key focuses are to champion youth education, sports and farmers' deals in South Suffolk.
She further added that she would like to even see a change in electricity in the area, by taking pylons off-shore and not being reliant on solar energy or their battery packs.
Results in full
James Cartlidge* (C) 16,082
Emma Bishton (L) 13,035
Bev England (RUK) 9,252
Tom Bartleet (LD) 6,424
Jessie Carter (G) 4,008
Turnout 67% - majority 3,047
Published by the East Anglian Daily Times.
