Wellingborough: Ex-Newham councillor and Taylor Swift fan Gen Kitchen overturns huge Tory majority for Labour

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Labour won a staggering by-election victory over the Conservatives in Wellingborough on Friday morning.

Former Newham councillor Gen Kitchen achieved an astounding 28.5 percent swing for her party - the second largest from blue to red since 1945.

So large was the victory that Labour called it shortly after midnight before the majority of votes had even been counted.

After overturning a 18,540 Tory majority, Ms Kitchen said “the people of Wellingborough have spoken for Britain” in her winner’s speech. She later added said: “I am delighted to be the newly elected Labour MP for Wellingborough.

“I am honoured that local people have placed their trust in me and the Labour Party.

“But I also know, from the thousands of conversations I have had during this campaign, how people want a fresh start.”

The 28-year-old Taylor Swift fan’s campaign was spurred on by the circumstances in which the by-election was held.

Former Tory MP Peter Bone, 71, lost his seat in a recall petition triggered by his suspension for allegedly bullying and indecently exposing himself to an aide.

His girlfriend, Helen Harrison, was selected to stand in his place in the be-election. No senior Tories went out in the constituency to campaign for her.

Turnout in the constituency was also low at less than 40 per cent.

The Labour leader said: “These are fantastic results...By winning in these Tory strongholds, we can confidently say that Labour is back in the service of working people and we will work tirelessly to deliver for them.

"The Tories have failed. Rishi’s recession proves that. That’s why we’ve seen so many former Conservative voters switching directly to this changed Labour Party.

"Those who gave us their trust in Kingswood and Wellingborough, and those considering doing so, can be safe in the knowledge that we will spend every day working to get Britain’s future back.”

Ms Kitchen, who is from Northamptonshire, became one of Newham’s youngest councillors when she was elected in the borough’s Boleyn ward in 2018.

During her four years at the town hall she campaigned on environmental issues and helping people into work after the pandemic.

In 2019 she campaigned “to remain in the EU” if there was a confirmatory referendum.

She has previously worked for charities, including Sarcoma UK and was one of Labour’s youngest general election candidates in 2019.

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