Craig defends valley seat with bigger majority
CRAIG WHITTAKER was victorious at last week’s General Election, successfully defending his Calder Valley seat and drastically increasing his majority.
The Conservative MP has represented Calder Valley since 2010, and at this poll saw his majority rise from 609 to 5,774.
Mr Whittaker said: “It’s been an honour and a privilege to be given a fourth term by the people of the Calder Valley.
“They have given us a very clear message of what it is they want - and that is fixing Brexit, breaking the deadlock of Parliament and getting on with fixing things that are important to people in society.
“We are a prime leave seat and people are pretty disgusted about Parliament’s inability to take responsibility for fixing that most democratic of votes and the trust levels and division that it has caused over the last two and a half years.
“People are fed up with it.” Labour’s Josh Fenton-Glynn, who serves as a Labour councillor for Calder ward on Calderdale Council, said: “I was disappointed with tonight’s results in the national picture. I believe in Labour values and will continue to fight for those Labour values.”
Coun Fenton-Glynn also said that he will continue his work with local flood prevention charity Slow the Flow and does not know if he will campaign in the next General Election.
Liberal Democrat candidate Javed Bashir said: “We ran a very positive campaign, the outcomes and responses we had on doorsteps have been very positive and reflected how the country is feeling.
“We have a leave constituency, coming in to this election night with a leave revoke was always going to be an uphill struggle.”
The Liberal Party’s Richard Phillips said that he is pleased with how his campaign has went.
“We have come across as an alternative vote. Hopefully this is going to be a step in the right direction for people wanting real liberalism in the Calder Valley,” he said.
Results: Craig Whittaker, Conservative, 29,981 votes; Josh Fenton-Glynn, Labour, 24,207 votes; Javed Bashir, Liberal Democrats, 2,884 votes; Richard Phillips, Liberal Party, 725.
58,072 ballot papers were received for the Calder Valley, with a 73.25 per cent turn out.