General Election 2019: Ludlow - Philip Dunne increases Tory majority in ultra-safe seat

Results:

• Philip Dunne, Conservative* - 32,185

• Heather Kidd, Lib Dems - 8,537

• Kuldip Sahota, Labour - 7,591

• Hilary Wendt, Green - 1,912

• Turnout - 72.7 per cent

Mr Dunne swept aside the challenge of Labour, Liberal Democrat and Green candidates as he secured a record majority.

He secured 32,185 votes, Liberal Democrat challenge Heather Kidd secured 8,537, Labour’s Kuldip Sahota gained 7,591 while the Green Party candidate Hilary Wendt achieved 1,912. The turnout was 72.7 per cent.

Mr Dunne said he was delighted with his victory. He said the election had finally settled the issue of Brexit. “The most important issue has undoubtedly been to try and ensure that we had a Parliament that honoured the result of the referendum,” he added.

“There was a big issue of trust in democracy in this election and that is one of the reason why people across the country have been switching their votes to the Conservative, so that they will deliver the Brexit deal.

Mrs Kidd was disappointed that the Liberals had failed to narrow the gap in a seat that they held during the last decade.

She said: “This is a terrible result for people living in rural communities, particularly for our local farmers. The Conservatives have never been any good at putting money into those communities and that’s not going to change now.”

Mr Sahota accepted it was a disappointing night for Labour while Ms Wendt said it was a sobering evening for parties that supported Remain.

Mr Dunne became Ludlow’s MP in 2005 when he defeated the then-Liberal Democrat MP Matthew Green by about 2,000 votes.

He increased his majority in 2010 to nearly 10,000 votes and in 2015 he secured a 19,000 majority, which he maintained in 2017.