Sponsored by
Election reaction: Malik anger as Tories take Dewsbury
Labour's former Dewsbury MP Shahid Malik refused to blame his defeat on the expenses scandal - and said he "wouldn't change a thing".
Britain's first Muslim minister showed a bitter streak after losing out to Simon Reevell, who is the town's third Conservative MP in 142 years.
Mr Malik hit out at independent candidate Khizer Iqbal, a former Conservative councillor, and claimed boundary changes played a part in his defeat.
After the count, he raged: "He (Khizer Iqbal] was an opponent put up not to win, but to ensure I lost. I inherited 26 villages that were blue.
"Expenses wasn't an issue. I went around social clubs and sports clubs speaking to people and nobody mentioned it. They have moved on."
Mr Malik, 42, was forced to pay back 1,300 after the expenses scandal, which related to claims for a massage chair and a plasma TV.
Last month, it also emerged that Mr Malik was facing a new investigation over claims he used public money to insure his wife's engagement ring.
But he denied that the scandal had anything to do with his defeat, where there was a 5.9 % swing to the Conservatives.
He blasted: "It's only an issue for you people, the media. Out there, people are fed up, they've dealt with it. The media still hasn't moved on."
In his speech, he said: "I lost, but certainly don't feel like a loser. I feel like a winner. It's been the hardest thing I've ever done and I wouldn't change a thing."
Mr Malik lost to Mr Reevell by more than 1,500 votes.
The turnout was 68.7 per cent, up from 62 % at the 2005 election, with a total of 54,008 votes cast across the Dewsbury constituency.
Mr Malik himself - who wore all black on the night with no Labour rosette in sight - did not arrive at the count until 4.05am, just half an hour before the result was announced.
However, he was reportedly seen hiding in his car outside Huddersfield Sports Centre, 40 minutes before finally making his entrance.
As he greeted one of his supporters, the man hugged him and quietly said, "I'm sorry", while campaigners rallied around with disappointed faces.
After the count, Mr Malik couldn't resist taking a swipe at Mr Reevell, telling one reporter that he should "quit his job" if he wants to be a serious MP.
During an interview with the YEP before the election, the barrister told the YEP that he was "quietly confident" that he could take the seat.
After the count, he said: "This is the most humbling feeling. Thousands of people have taken the trouble to go out and vote for me.
"We hoped we would win because we fought an honest campaign but you never know until the votes are counted."
RESULT:
Simon Reevell (Conservative) 18,898
Shahid Malik (Labour) 17,372
Andrew Hutchinson (Liberal Democrat) 9,150
Khizar Iqbal (Independent) 3,813
Roger Roberts (British National Party) 3,265
Adrian Cruden (Green) 849
Michael Felse (English Democrats) 661
Majority 1,526 2.8% CON GAIN FROM LAB
Turnout 54,008 68.5% +9.2
****
* Click here to read YEP political editor Mark Hookham's Westminster blog.
* Click here for latest YEP news.
* Click here to watch latest YEP news and sport video reports.
Email to a friend
Print this page- Politics: Mark Hookham's Westminster blog - 5.33pm
- Castleford RSPB Fairburn Ings: High wire act Swallows’ summer parade
- Worker dies on North Yorkshire Moors Railway
- Video: Restaurant reopens on Leeds Harry Ramsden’s site after £500,000 refit
- Chocolat author will tempt guests at Leeds Big Bookend Festival
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Leeds
Friday 25 May 2012
Today
Sunny
Temperature: 10 C to 23 C
Wind Speed: 20 mph
Wind direction: East
Tomorrow
Sunny
Temperature: 8 C to 20 C
Wind Speed: 16 mph
Wind direction: East
