Labour takes control of East Midlands – despite shock defeat in Leicester

The political map across the East Midlands has been ripped up after a seismic General Election.

Keir Starmer is the new Prime Minister after a huge landslide for the Labour Party, which is on course to win 410 seats in Westminster.

Across the region, Labour candidates swept to power and the Conservative vote collapsed.

However, one of the biggest shocks of the night came when Shadow Cabinet Minister Jonathan Ashworth lost his Leicester South seat to pro-Gaza candidate, the independent Shockat Adam.

High profile Tory casualties included Mark Spencer, who lost his Sherwood Forest seat to Labour, and Ben Bradley, the leader of Nottinghamshire County Council who also lost out to Labour in Mansfield. Bradley, who also lost the race to become East Midlands Mayor earlier this year, blamed Reform for his loss.

Elsewhere, Rushcliffe turned to Labour for the first time since 1966 as James Naish beat Ken Clarke’s successor Ruth Edwards with ease.

Reform’s Lee Anderson, who defected from the Tories earlier this year, triumphed in his Ashfield heartland.

New Prime Minister Keir Starmer now has a new Red Wall in the East Midlands with gains and holds across the board.

East Midlands Chamber chief executive Scott Knowles said: “Business wants the best outcomes that will remove barriers to economic growth in the East Midlands and we look forward to hearing the new Government’s plans as soon as possible.

“Government’s purpose is to create an economic environment that allows businesses to invest, to create and sustain jobs – and then to get out of the way to allow business to thrive. That’s what the business community needs for growth in the East Midlands and we stand ready to advise and hold the new government to account at both national and regional level to ensure that enacting the needs of our region’s businesses is top of the list.”