The new MP for Tunbridge Wells is the Liberal Democrat, Mike Martin, who told journalists that an “earthquake” has hit politics after he comfortably defeated the Conservatives by around 10,000 votes.
The constituency of Tunbridge Wells has been Conservative since it was created in 1974, having been combined with Tonbridge before that.
Tunbridge Wells becomes the Liberal Democrat’s first ever seat in Kent.
Mr Martin (above) said: “We are standing in the aftermath of a political earthquake. Tunbridge Wells has had a Conservative member of parliament for 114 years – but no more.
“This earthquake, epicentre Tunbridge Wells, reverberates across the country.”
Neil Mahapatra came second for the Conservatives. He had only been selected to run in the seat a month before the election, due to the sudden decision of Greg Clark to step down.
This is the full result from Tunbridge Wells for July 2024 (compared with 2019 result)
|
Votes |
Share |
Change share |
||
|
Mike Martin |
LibDem |
23,661 |
43.6 |
15.3 |
|
Neil Mahapatra |
Con |
14,974 |
27.6 |
-27.5 |
|
John Gager |
Reform |
6,484 |
12.0 |
11.9 |
|
Hugo Giles Pound |
Labour |
6,178 |
11.4 |
-3.4 |
|
John Hurst |
Green |
2,344 |
4.3 |
4.3 |
|
Hassan Kassem |
Indep |
609 |
1.1 |
0.3 |
This is how the vote in Tunbridge Wells was announced.
Meanwhile, In Tonbridge, the Conservative Tom Tugendhat saw his vote share drop from 65% to 41%, but he still retained a majority of more than 10,000.
Tom Tugendhat told journalists at the count: “I’m very pleased to be able to work with the people of Tonbridge for the coming parliamentary term, and I am really privileged to be doing that. So I am very very grateful for the trust placed in me”.
Tom Tugendhat refused to comment on a possible bid for the leadership of the Conservative Party but continued: “This has been a very very difficult night for the Conservative Party. This has clearly been one of those moments where we really do need to stop and rethink where we are going”.
Tom Tugendhat concluded: “This is a moment where we have failed to deliver. And sadly, we have quite obviously we’ve lost the trust and confidence of the British public and that is a really big wake up moment.”
There is more reaction from the Lib Dems and Greens in Tonbridge on the West Kent Radio page:
https://www.westkentradio.co.uk/news/election-24/liberal-democrats-take-tunbridge-wells/
This is the full result from Tonbridge in July 2024 (compared with 2019):
|
Votes |
Share |
Change share |
||
|
Tom Tugendhat |
Con |
20,517 |
40.8 |
-24.0 |
|
Lewis Bailey |
Labour |
9,351 |
18.6 |
3.5 |
|
Anna Cope |
Green |
7,596 |
15.1 |
7.2 |
|
Teresa Hansford |
Reform |
7,548 |
15.0 |
15.0 |
|
John Woollcombe |
LibDem |
4,234 |
8.4 |
-3.9 |
|
Tim Shaw |
IndAK |
926 |
1.8 |
1.8 |
|
Ian Grattidge |
SDP |
156 |
0.3 |
0.3 |
