RECAP: Prime Minister Boris Johnson visits Hartlepool after Conservative Jill Mortimer becomes town's new MP

Prime Minister Boris Johnson has come to Hartlepool to celebrate the victory of Jill Mortimer as the town’s new Conservative MP.
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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.

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Prime Minister Mr Johnson paid a visit to Hartlepool on Friday afternoon to meet with Mrs Mortimer and congratulate her on winning the election.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in Hartlepool where he has met with the town’s new Conservative MP Jill Mortimer.Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in Hartlepool where he has met with the town’s new Conservative MP Jill Mortimer.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson is in Hartlepool where he has met with the town’s new Conservative MP Jill Mortimer.

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

3.35am: Turnout figures confirmed as counting finally begins

Voting turnout figures for the four elections have been confirmed. They are: Hartlepool Borough Council (47%), Parliamentary (42%), Cleveland Police and Crime Commissioner (41.75%) and Tees Valley Mayor (41.71%).

The votes have been verified and counting for the Parliamentary election will now begin.

4.06am: ‘I think Hartlepool has been given some hope'

Hartlepool businesswoman Samantha Lee, who dropped into the media tent earlier in the evening with son Billy, said: “I’ve had a plethora of messages all day long. My phone has never stopped ringing.

“I think Hartlepool has been given some hope.

“The hardest part has been the fight against the political machines that have been saying it is a two-horse race.”

Independent candidate Samantha Lee with son Billy Independent candidate Samantha Lee with son Billy
Independent candidate Samantha Lee with son Billy

4.45am: Look who’s here.

A giant balloon of Prime Minister Boris Johnson has appeared outside Hartlepool’s Mill House Leisure Centre.

It is believed to be the same balloon put up on the Marina earlier in the campaign by a secretive group calling themselves the Wombles of Hartlepool.

Who said politicians are plastic?

An inflatable Boris Johnson mysteriously appeared outside the Mill House Leisure Centre An inflatable Boris Johnson mysteriously appeared outside the Mill House Leisure Centre
An inflatable Boris Johnson mysteriously appeared outside the Mill House Leisure Centre

5.39am: Still no result but..............

.........there’s suggestions inside the leisure centre that it might finally be declared by 6am.

6.05am: Still no result and............

............they are still counting.

6.15am: You might find this photo interesting

Tables containing votes for some of the by-election candidates as counting draws to a close. Tables containing votes for some of the by-election candidates as counting draws to a close.
Tables containing votes for some of the by-election candidates as counting draws to a close.

6.55am: Waiting game

Conservative candidate Jill Mortimer is at the Mill House Leisure Centre waiting for confirmation that she will become her party’s first MP to serve Hartlepool since 1964.

Jill Mortimer awaits for confirmation that she will be Hartlepool’s new MP. Jill Mortimer awaits for confirmation that she will be Hartlepool’s new MP.
Jill Mortimer awaits for confirmation that she will be Hartlepool’s new MP.

7.10am: Jill Mortimer is Hartlepool’s new MP

Jill Mortimer is Hartlepool’s new MP after winning by nearly 7,000 votes.