‘We’ll make things work again’: Labour trio re-elected in Hull as party wins General Election

‘THE COUNTRY HAS SPOKEN’: Dame Diana Johnson, left, and Emma Hardy celebrate on an historic night for Labour

By Angus Young

Labour’s trio of candidates in Hull have retained their parliamentary places as the party secured an historic victory in the General Election.

Emma Hardy, Diana Johnson and Karl Turner were all re-elected in new-look seats following a recent Boundary Commission review of constituencies.

When Mr Turner and Ms Hardy return to the Commons it will be the first time they have sat on the government benches since first being elected as MPs in 2010 and 2017 respectively.

Dame Diana, who was first elected in Labour’s 2005 victory under Tony Blair, comfortably won in Hull North & Cottingham.

While the boundary changes have made it impossible to draw direct comparisons with previous General Election majorities, she still polled 10,679 more votes more than her nearest challenger, Reform UK’s Martin Baker.

She said: “The country has spoken. People wanted change and they will get change under a Labour government with a fresh start and a new direction.

“We will make things work again. Over the last six weeks people have told us time and time again they are fed up with things not working properly, whether it’s trying to get a doctor’s appointment or finding sewage blocking up our rivers.”

The turnout in the constituency was 50.9 per cent.

Mr Turner retained his seat in Hull East having previously held off an unexpected Conservative surge five years ago during a Brexit-dominated election campaign.

This time he secured a 3,920 majority ahead of second-placed Reform UK candidate Neil Hunter in a contest which saw a turnout of just 42 per cent.

Mr Turner said: “I am delighted. It has been a momentous night for the Labour Party under Keir Starmer and we look forward to forming the next government.

“I am obviously disappointed about the turnout but I have been disappointed about turnouts in Hull East ever since I was first elected.

“I can understand why people are turned off politics but Labour is determined to deliver on its pledge to restore public confidence in our political system after 14 years of chaos under the Tories.”

In Hull West & Haltemprice, Ms Hardy faced the extra challenge of campaigning in newly-added East Riding wards such as Willerby, Kirk Ella and Anlaby where Labour has traditionally struggled to muster support in council elections.

‘MOMENTOUS NIGHT’: Karl Turner, centre, celebrates his win in Hull East

However, she won easily with an 8,979 majority.

She said: “It’s an honour to be elected again to serve the people of this new constituency and I am thrilled by the overall result for Labour.

“I now have to repay the trust people have put in me and I am sure I will do that.”

The turnout was 52.28 per cent.

Reform UK’s Julie Peck finished second, confirming the citywide shift in support away from the Conservatives to Nigel Farage’s party. 

Of the other parties in Hull, the Conservatives suffered the most in a big backlash against Rishi Sunak’s government.

Neither the Liberal Democrats or the Greens managed to make significant inroads.

Elsewhere in the region, veteran Tory David Davis won in the new-look Goole & Pocklington seat, and former East Riding Council deputy leader Charlie Dewhirst is set to swap County Hall for Westminster by becoming a first-time MP after winning in Bridlington & The Wolds for the Conservatives.

Graham Stuart retained Beverley & Holderness for the Conservatives by the narrow margin of 124 votes from Labour’s Margaret Pinder.