Kerry McCarthy Labour MP for Bristol East
I’m delighted to have once again been elected by the people of Bristol East to be their MP, and really pleased that all four seats in Bristol stayed Labour. Many thanks to everyone who voted and especially to all those who came out to campaign, put posters up, and kept me going by stopping me in the street, (often in the pouring rain!) to wish me good luck. I promise I will do my very best to repay you for the trust you have put in me, to stand up for the people of Bristol East in Parliament and be there for anyone who needs help from me.
It was obviously a really disappointing night for Labour nationally, and many people will have woken up this morning fearful as to what the next four or five years may bring. I am so sad that really decent, principled and hard-working Labour MPs, who have been good friends and comrades, lost their seats. There was also Labour candidates who put absolutely everything into campaigning and would have been fantastic MPs, but it wasn’t to be. There may be only 202 of us left in the Parliamentary Labour Party, but as a movement we are much more than that. Labour now needs to take time to reflect on what happened and why, and emerge stronger, more united and focused on the battles ahead.
