Defeats Joy Morrissey in disastrous night for the Conservatives

Rupa Huq, Labour, holds Ealing Central & Acton #Ealingdecides #GE2017 pic.twitter.com/b1HQyRPwO6

— EalingCouncil (@EalingCouncil) June 9, 2017

Rupa Huq has retained the Ealing Central and Acton seat for Labour in the 2017 General Election with a significantly increased majority. She won 13,807 more votes than the Conservative candidate Joy Morrissey in a constituency that she had previously held by just over 200 votes.

The result was declared earlier in the night than was expected as a disastrous night for the Conservatives unfolded. Expectations of a landslide when the election was announced were quickly evaporating into fears of a hung parliament.

Rupa said “Our campaign focused on my record as an MP, the NHS and Brexit and we saw the majority rise 50 times and we took 60% of the vote in the seat.” She dismissed speculation that the seat had now become “safe” for Labour. “It’s a huge honour and privilege that so many have put their trust in me but I will continue as an active campaigning MP and certainly not rest on my laurels,” she commented.

Rupa thanked all her campaign team and paid an emotional tribute to her recently deceased mother.

Younger sister, former Blue Peter presenter Konnie Huq, has been supporting Rupa throughout the campaign and said she was: '' Over the moon, the result exceeded our wildest expectations. I know Rupa will make sure she delivers for all her constituents.''

The contest had been fractious with her Conservative opponent Joy Morrissey threatening legal action over the content of Labour election leaflets which she claimed contained falsehoods about her views on the NHS and Brexit.

The Labour MP seems to have benefited from her defiance of the Labour party whip when she voted against Article 50. 72% of her constituents were against leaving the EU in the referendum last year. Anecdotally a higher turnout from younger voters boosted her support including from students who registered themselves in the previously highly marginal constituency rather than their university town.

She also was boosted by the withdrawal of the Green Party candidate and the revelation that senior Liberal Democrat figures had urged party members to vote for her rather than their own candidate Jon Ball.

June 12, 2017