The new Labour MP for Selby and Ainsty Keir Mather was joined by Sir Keir Starmer and Angela Rayner in Selby today to celebrate his victory at yesterday’s Selby and Ainsty by-election.
At just 25-years-old, Mr Mather will become the youngest MP in the House of Commons.
He took 16,456 of the votes.
The constituency had been held by the former Conservative MP Nigel Adams - who resigned last month - since 2010. But Mr Mather overturned a majority of 20,000.
The Conservative candidate Claire Holmes achieved 12,295 votes.
Mr Mather said: “I want to say thank you to the people of Selby and Ainsty, all those people who put their trust in Labour, many for the very first time. It is the privilege of my life to serve you in Parliament. I will be working tirelessly every day to repay the faith that you have shown in me.
“Overturning the largest majority since the Second World War is no mean feat but it’s a testament to the fact that we’ve worked incredibly hard to get to get out on the doorstep, and spread that positive and hopeful message of what a Labour MP and a Labour government can deliver for people.”
Sir Keir Starmer said: “Today is a day of firsts. I’m the first leader to say Labour Selby and Ainsty ever. It’s the first time we have won here and the first time we have overturned a 20,000 majority - the biggest majority we have ever turned over in the history of the Labour Party.
“I want to address those that voted for us directly, because you voted for change. You put your trust in the Labour Party and we hear you. We hear that cry for change away from the chaos, away from those rising bills and crumbling public services, and we will deliver. We will deliver through Keir Mather and we’ll deliver through the next Labour government.”
