The Tories have maintained their hold on Suffolk, increasing majorities in constituencies such as Ipswich, Bury St Edmunds and South Suffolk. Reflecting what was very a strong night for the party, seats across Suffolk and north Essex remained in Conservative hands. Sir Bob Russell’s Colchester seat was one of the many Liberal Democrats to disappear under a tide of blue and although Douglas Carswell held Clacton for UKIP, his majority was sizably reduced.
Many of the results from across the region came in late due to the rural nature of the county and the need to separate general election ballots from local election ballots.
The count at Suffolk Coastal took longer than expected and Therese Coffey’s victory was not revealed until nearly 7am.
Returning officer Stephen Baker permitted counting to begin while unopened boxes of votes still sat waiting for the verification process.
Separation of council ballot papers from the Parliamentary ones was the first task, which added to the delay.
The turnout is also expected to be high.
Central Suffolk and North Ipswich also declared just after 7am, with health minister Dan Poulter retaining the seat for the Conservatives with a majority of more than 20,000. The turnout was 54,233 – a turnout of 70.7%, slightly up on 2010’s 70.4%
Speaking generally this morning, Dr Poulter said he believed undecided voters were turning to the Conservatives over Labour. He said: “The undecided voters are voting Conservative instead of Labour which is what I have been getting when out in towns and villages.”
He added that many were voting for Tory candidates in tightly-contested seats who had become MPs for the first time in 2010.
With the count only beginning in Bury St Edmunds at around 4.45am the final result was also late with Jo Churchill holding the seat for the Conservatives. A total of 31,815 voters decided they wanted Mrs Churchill to represent them in the House of Commons, an improvement on the 27,899 achieved by David Ruffley at the last election.
The Tories’ hold of South Suffolk also continued with James Cartlidge increasing the Conservative majority to 27,000 after replacing long-standing Tory Tim Yeo.
- Published in the EADT