Council leader urges new county MPs to work together

Labour’s landslide victory in the General Election has changed the country’s and Hampshire’s electoral map.

The previously blue-dominated Hampshire is now splattered with orange and red after the Liberal Democrats and Labour won more seats.

In Hampshire and the Isle of Wight, including the three unitary authorities, the change of party has been seen in places such as Portsmouth North, where the former leader of the House of Commons Penny Mordaunt lost to Labour’s Amanda Martin, who won with a majority of 780.

Labour gained seats from the Conservatives in Southampton Itchen, Basingstoke, Isle of Wight West, and Aldershot. In some cases, the Tories had held the seats for more than 14 years, like in the case of the Isle of Wight West – a seat they had held since 1997.

Meanwhile, in Winchester, Eastleigh, and North East Hampshire, Liberal Democrats were elected.
With MPs from three parties now representing Hampshire at Westminster, the county council sent a positive message to them, emphasising their crucial role in representing the area and a wish to work together for the benefit of residents.

Cllr Nick Adams-King said: “The people of Hampshire have spoken, and we have a new cohort of MPs to represent us in Parliament. Some of them are returning, and some of them are new. I’d like to welcome them all and congratulate them on their victories in the general election.

“Hampshire is a wonderful county to represent. We have a vibrant economy, wonderful towns and cities and fantastic countryside. I hope they enjoy their terms over the next few years, representing us all.

“I firmly believe no one enters politics to do harm. We just disagree on the way in which we do good, and as such, I’m looking forward to working with all of them, no matter which party they represent, to work together to represent the people of Hampshire and do all that we can to make Hampshire an even better place for us all to live.”