Disaster for Labour as Jonathan Ashworth loses seat to pro-Gaza independent
Labour's former Shadow Paymaster General had held his seat since 2011 but lost out tonight against an independent.
A senior Labour party MP has lost his seat against an independent campaigning on the war in Gaza.
Jonathan Ashworth had been a prominent figure in Sir Keir Starmer's election campaign making multiple media appearances in the last six weeks, but the Shadow Paymaster General lost his Leicester South seat tonight.
Mr Ashworth suffered a minus 35 percent loss in share of the vote in the constituency he has held since 2011, whereas opponent Shockat Adam, running as an independent, gained almost the same amount.
Conservative candidate Gerri Hickton came third in the race with 4,820 votes narrowly beating Green Party runner Sharmen Rahman on 3,826.
Mr Ashworth's loss of his seat comes amid predictions constituencies with high Muslim populations would vote against Labour over their stance on the ongoing Israel-Hamas war in the Middle East.
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In November Labour MP for Yardley Jess Phillips stepped down from the Shadow Cabinet after voting against party whip on Israel-Hamas conflict.
Earlier Sir Keir Starmer said the country was "ready for change" as Labour appeared on course for a landslide win in the General Election.
The Labour leader, who will become the UK's next Prime Minister, said "you have voted, it is now time for us to deliver".
An exit poll indicated Labour is forecast to have a 170-seat majority in the Commons, with the Conservatives reduced to their lowest number of MPs on record.
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In his acceptance speech after being re-elected in Holborn and St Pancras, Sir Keir said: "Tonight, people here and around the country have spoken and they are saying they're ready for change.
"To end the politics of performance and return to politics as public service."
He added: "You have voted, it is now time for us to deliver."
Latest exit polls at the time of writing have the Conservatives set for 131 seats, the Liberal Democrats on 61, Reform UK on 13 and the Green Party on two.
In Scotland, the SNP are expected to secure 10 seats with Plaid Cymru in Wales on four.
Leicester South results
Independent, Shockat Adam:
14,739
Labour, Jonathan Ashworth:
13,760
Conservative, Gerri Hickton:
4,820
Green, Sharmen Rahman:
3,826
Reform UK, Craig Harwood:
2,470
Liberal Democrat, Carol Weaver:
1,425
Independent, Osman Admani:
339
Communist Party of Britain, Ann Green:
279
Monster Raving Loony Party, Ezechiel Adlore:
189.
