05
Jul 2024
New Lib Dem Harrogate MP hails 'historic moment'
Tom Gordon, the newly elected MP for Harrogate and Knaresborough, hailed his victory as a “historic moment” for the area.
Mr Gordon won the seat from the Conservatives by a majority of 8,058.
It is the first time the party has held the seat since losing it to former MP, Andrew Jones, in 2010.
In his victory speech, Mr Gordon said the result showed the Lib Dems “were back” in Harrogate and across the country.
He said:
Thank you to the people of Harrogate and Knaresborough who have put their trust in me to represent them and champion the issues that matter most.
People from all walks of life have been let down and taken for granted again by this Conservative government.
No matter how you voted in this election, I hear you and I will fight for you all year round. I promise to be your local champion, just like Phil Willis was.
Mr Gordon declined to speak to the Stray Ferret after the result was declared. Last week we revealed he had been reported to the Gambling Commission over allegations of election betting.
Andrew Jones, the Conservative candidate and former MP, congratulated Mr Gordon on the result.
He said:
It’s been a wonderful honour to represent my home area in parliament. Looking back over the 14 years, there have been many positive changes in Harrogate and Knaresborough.
However, he added that the result nationally showed that the public had voted for a “clear rejection” of the Conservatives.
Meanwhile, Conrad Whitcroft, who stood for Labour, said his result was disappointing.
However, he added that the national result which will see the party win a landslide was a success.
He said:
It’s a disappointing result here in Harrogate and Knaresborough. But we have had massive success across the country.
Full result
- Tom Gordon, Liberal Democrat - 23,976 (46%)
- Paul Haslam, independent - 670 (1.2%)
- Andrew Jones, Conservative - 15,738 (30%)
- Stephen Metcalfe, independent - 136 (0.3%)
- Shan Oakes, Green Party - 1,762 (3.4%)
- Jonathan Swales, Reform UK - 5,679 (11%)
- Conrad Whitcroft, Labour Party - 4,153 (8%)
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