Dr Lee gains ground

BRACKNELL re-elected Dr Phillip Lee to be its MP, with almost two in three of the electorate backing him.

He saw his share of the vote rise by 3.1% to 32,882. However, Labour’s Paul Bidwell made significant gains in its share of the vote: it leapt by by 13.3% to 16,866.

Between them, the pair had almost 90% of the vote.

Their increase came both from a larger turnout but also a collapse in the UKIP vote: it went down 13% to 1,521.

Liberal Democrat candidate Patrick Smith held steady with a 7.5% share and 4,186 votes.

Cllr Olivio Barreto, who sits on Bracknell Forest Council as a UKIP councillor, stood as an independent candidate and came fifth, collecting just 437 votes.

In a Facebook message on Saturday, Dr Lee thanked his supporters.

He said: “Thank you to those who have supported me over the past seven years and continue to do so. It is an honour and a privilege to be your MP, and I promise you that I will continue to make Bracknell’s voice heard at Westminster. Every vote, and every voter, counts – I do not take a single one for granted.”

He said that it had been a remarkable 48 hours in British politics and promised to reflect on why the Labour vote had increased in the constituency.

“I think we need to reflect particularly on what the young people did this week in terms of how they voted. I think there is a need for a new Conservatism. I think there is a need not to think that we can just continue along the same path .

“I’m pleased that Theresa May is remaining as Prime Minister, but I think it’s important that when we move forward into the Brexit negotiations – and indeed with regards to the economy and public services – that we take note of what happened this week so that I, and indeed the entire Government, can get the best for Britain.”