Labour gets revenge in Burnley

LABOUR regained Burnley as its candidate Oliver Ryan ousted the first Tory MP for the town in more than 100 years.

In 2019 Antony Higginbotham won a shock victory for the Conservatives by just 1,352 votes.

But this time round he came in third as Mr Ryan romped home for Labour out of a packed field of eight candidates with 12,598.

Veteran Liberal Democrat councillor and former MP Gordon Birtwistle came an unexpected second with 9,178 votes.

And Mr Higginbotham can reflect on not just making a bit of political history five years ago but on the fact that a surge in support for Reform UK – whose candidate Nathan McCollum got 7,755 votes – had prevented him from showing the blue lightning could strike twice in the slightly redrawn constituency.

Mr Ryan said after the result was declared at the count at Burnley’s Life Church: “I’m so grateful to everyone involved for the mega operation we’ve run today.

“I couldn’t ask for a warmer, more committed, more enthusiastic team – on the streets, on the phones, and across the whole constituency. We’ve given it everything.

“I’m very excited to start the work, to hopefully get down to Westminster as soon as possible and fight the fight for Burnley, Padiham and Brierfield.

“People voted for change after 14 years of the Conservatives, we made a promise to deliver that change on public services, the NHS, and the cost of living crisis, and my job is to go make sure it’s delivered for Burnley, Padiham and Brierfield.

“So I aim to do just that and be the strong voice that I’ve promised people I will be.”

Mr Higginbotham said: “It has been the privilege of my life to serve the residents of Burnley and Padiham over the last four and a half years.

“In that time I’ve shown that politics can be done differently to what Labour brought to the area for more than 100 years.

“It was positive, ambitious for our area, and proactive in delivering results.

“And whatever those on the other side may say, those achievements can’t be erased, undone or glossed over. I only hope that my successor builds on them, because Burnley and Padiham deserve nothing less.”

Mr Birtwistle said: “I am delighted at my vote and coming second. It was even better than I had expected in view of what was happening with Labour across the country.”

The full results were: Gordon Birtwistle Liberal Democrat 9,178 votes; Mitchell Cryer Independent 169; Rayyan Fiass Independent 292; Antony Higginbotham Conservative 8,058; Jack Launer The Green Party 1,518; Nathan McCollum Reform UK 7,755; David Roper Independent 151; Oliver Ryan Labour and Co-operative Party 12,598. The turnout was 53.2 per cent