Following the Chesham and Amersham by-election which saw the Liberal Democrats produce a resounding win, two candidates have spoken out regarding the result.
Sarah Green will be the first MP outside of the Conservative Party to lead the constituency since it was created 47 years ago, after she managed to accumulate more than 21,000 votes.
This was 8,000 more than Peter Fleet, who was the Tory candidate and favourite to win the seat.
It was a good night for the Lib Dems
People in Chesham and Amersham will never be taken for granted again. We have sent a message to the whole country tonight.
— Sarah Green (@SarahGreenLD) June 18, 2021
Thank you to @LibDems activists who made this possible. I can't wait to get started!
Speaking after the defeat, Peter Fleet said: “Clearly, this is a very disappointing result and it is not the result I was expecting not nor my team.
“I congratulate the Liberal Democrat candidate on her victory and I hope she finds the best possible way to serve the constituents she’s promised so much.
“It is an absolutely extraordinary result which must take into account the fact that the Liberal Democrat party didn’t just through the kitchen sink, at this constituency, but I think it was also the microwave, the table, the oven, the dishwasher, the dog, the cat and anything else that was lying around as well.
Peter Fleet's statement
I am deeply disappointed that the people of #CheshamAndAmersham have, under the extraordinary circumstances of a by-election, voted for someone else to represent them in Parliament. Our work to regain the trust of local people begins today. @caca_tories
— Peter Fleet (@pdfleet) June 18, 2021
“We should consider that and reflect upon the extraordinary nature of the result.
“It is clear that on this occasion, the constituents in Chesham and Amersham have chosen a different candidate to represent them and I look forward to how we can rebuild that trust and understanding amongst all those people in Chesham and Amersham, as far as the conservative party is concerned, that work actually starts in the morning.”
The result was also a damaging night for the Labour Party as candidate Natasa Pantelic scored a woefully low 622 votes, making it the lowest share the party has ever won in a by-election.
In 2019, the party had 7,166 votes at that year’s General Election.
The Green Party outdid Labour by gaining 1,480 votes through Carolyne Culver, but the night belonged to the Liberal Democrats with their leader, Ed Davey, saying: “Congratulations to @SarahGreenLDwho has just sent a shockwave through British politics.
“If @libdems can beat the Tories here, we can beat them anywhere.
“The blue wall can be smashed by @libdems.”
The newly-elected MP then added: “People in Chesham and Amersham will never be taken for granted again.
“We have sent a message to the whole country tonight.
“Thank you to @LibDems activists who made this possible.
“I can't wait to get started!"
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