RECAP: Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Hartlepool after Conservative Jill Mortimer becomes town's new MP
and live on Freeview channel 276
The Conservative candidate received nearly 7,000 votes to secure a resounding victory just after 7am on Friday, May 7.
Her election as the town’s MP breaks Labour’s 57-year Parliamentary stranglehold on the town.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdPrime Minister Mr Johnson paid a visit to Hartlepool on Friday afternoon to meet with Mrs Mortimer and congratulate her on winning the election.
Meanwhile Conservative candidate Steve Turner has been elected as the Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) for the Cleveland Police Force area after receiving 74,023 votes – more than 50% of the total valid first preference votes cast.
Keep logging on here for constant updates, reaction and analysis.
Hartlepool by-election
Key Events
- Hartlepool voters have taken part in four elections on May 6
- They have voted for a new MP, crime commissioner, Tees Valley Mayor and 36 borough councillors
- Jill Mortimer is Hartlepool’s new MP after winning by nearly 7,000 votes
- We will be with you up until and beyond the result with reaction and analysis
12.20am: The Liberal Democrat view
Liberal Democrat candidate is among the would-be MPs at the count. Party spokesman Lord Dick Newbury said: “We think we have fought a good fight and we’re looking forward to making gains in local council seats across the region and to have a positive night.”
1am: “I think it is going to be close"
Reform UK candidate John Prescott has told Mail reporter Mark Payne: “I think it is going to be close between the main two parties.
“With us being a new party, the timing of the election hasn’t been particularly fantastic for us. But we’ll see.”
1.15am: Meet Hartlepool United’s new right winger
To try to keep you entertained throughout the evening - and perhaps even the morning - we thought we would look back at some of the more memorable pictures taken during the by-election campaign. Here’s Prime Minister Boris Johnson during a visit to Hartlepool United’s Victoria Park ground.
1.57am: Brew’s company
Our next campaign memory features Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer enjoying a pint of Camerons beer with candidate Paul Williams following a trip to the Hartlepool brewery.
2.35am: “I’ve seen piles and piles of Conservative votes"
Green Party candidate Rachel Featherstone told our reporter Mark Payne: “I’ve seen piles and piles of Conservative votes. It’s looking fairly grim for Labour.
Of her own campaign, she added: “The reception on the doorstep has been very positive. People seem really keen on green policies. But, of course, we were hampered by the electoral system.”
2.55am: ‘I just can’t stop myself'
Nick “The Incredible Flying Brick” Delves, representing the Official Monster Raving Loony Party, declared: “This is my fifth by-election and I’m just hooked. I can’t stop myself.”
3.10am: “We haven’t got over the line” says leading Labour politician
Shadow transport secretary Jim McMahon has conceded Labour has not “got over the line” in Hartlepool.
Asked whether Labour would be claiming victory in the by-election, Mr McMahon told Sky News: “It would be difficult to do that given how we see the numbers beginning to pan out.”
Pressed on whether he was conceding defeat, he added: “It is pretty clear in the way the ballots are landing that we are not close to winning this despite our best endeavours, despite the hard work of many fantastic volunteers and despite a fantastic candidate, who of course is a local GP working at Hartlepool hospital who has been working on the frontline during the pandemic.
“And so I think we have given it our all but sometimes you don’t get over the line on the day.
“That’s where we are, that’s the reality of where we are.
“We haven’t got over the line, that’s quite clear from the ballots.”
