Press releases

LRC welcomes strong vote for Labour Left MPs

7th May 2010

. . . votes are a mandate for resistance to cuts

LRC-backed Labour Left MPs bucked the national trend by increasing the Labour vote in their constituencies. The strong votes for these MPs demonstrates the support for a socialist alternative to the cross-party consensus on cuts.

On a night when the average Labour candidate lost more than 1500 votes:
• Mike Wood (Batley & Spen) increased his vote by over 1000 votes
• Katy Clark (Ayrshire North & Arran) increased her vote by over 2000 votes
• Kelvin Hopkins (Luton North) increased his vote by over 2000 votes, and was the only Labour candidate in the Eastern region to increase his vote
• LRC Chair John McDonnell (Hayes & Harlington) increased his vote by over 2500 votes
• Jeremy Corbyn (Islington North) increased his vote by over 8000 votes, among the most of any Labour candidate in the UK

LRC vice chair, Susan Press, said:

“These results show public support for candidates standing up for socialist values on an independent ticket, and the value of having a good local MP based in their community. While the electorate has rejected New Labour, it has endorsed socialist candidates.”

Andrew Fisher, LRC joint secretary, said:

“The LRC sends its congratulations to those Labour MPs who have consistently stood up for socialist values, and have been rewarded by the electorate. These results show that where people had a real political choice they voted enthusiastically for a socialist alternative.”