Half the vote for re-elected Rutley
CONSERVAT I V E David Rutley was re-elected as Macclesfield MP with an increased majority after he polled more than half the vote.
Mr Rutley gained 28,292 votes (52.5 per cent share) to have a majority of more than 10,000 over closest rival, Labour’s Neil Puttick who got 17,581 (32.6 per cent).
Other candidates were Neil Christian for the Lib Dems, for whom 5,684 voted (10.6 per cent) and the Green Party’s James Booth, 2,310 (4.3 per cent).
In 2017 Mr Rutley polled 28,595 and Mr Puttick 19,987.
Speaking after the count Mr Rutley said: “I would like to thank all those local residents who supported my re-election to Parliament. It is a great honour to have been elected to serve a fourth term.
”This is a historic moment for our country. Following the General Election result, it’s time to move forward from the uncertainty we have faced.
“We now need to leave the EU with the Prime Minister’s negotiated agreement and put a clear focus on the priorities that matter to all of us.” Mr Rutley also pledged to campaign for local issues such as air quality, flood management and the Poynton Relief Road.
Meanwhile Neil Puttick said: “We are obviously disappointed at the results but locally the swing against us was minimal, this confirms that with a better national picture we can win Macclesfield.
”Nationally the party must move forward with a new leader and fresh ideas.
”Locally we will hold David Rutley to account and continue to represent our residents on labour-led Macclesfield Town and Cheshire East councils.”
Lib Dem candidate Neil Christian saw his party’s vote share in Macclesfield go up by 4.4 per cent.
He said: “I want to say thank you to the voters who supported me. On what was a difficult night for my party I am really proud of the Macclesfield Liberal Democrat team and all their hard work during the campaign.
”Liberal Democrat membership has grown locally and nationally and we will move on from this election campaigning locally on the issues that matter.
“Now is the time to engage in politics and I will continue to stand up for Liberal and socially democratic values which I strongly believe can transform our communities.”
And Mr Booth, who saw his vote almost double compared to 2017, said: “This spurs us on to continue working hard on green issues locally.
”We’re really grateful to all those who voted Green - it makes a real difference, keeping action on the climate emergency and animal welfare firmly on the agenda.
“Every vote also helps our MP, Caroline Lucas, fund her work in the next parliament with the short money allocated to MPs.”