Burgon holds onto Leeds East, but with reduced majority

Having heard the announcement that he had beaten Conservative candidate Jill Mortimer by 5,531 votes, Burgon gave a passionate speech, claiming austerity had made his constituents’ lives a “misery”.

The Shadow Justice Secretary’s speech went on to attack Prime Minister Boris Johnson to the sound of heckles by Tory campaigners.

He said: “I want to thank the people of East Leeds who have placed their trust in me. I am very, very worried about the future of people in East Leeds and across the country.

“It looks like we are facing five years of a Thatcherite Prime Minister in the shape of Boris Johnson.

“Conservative activists might cheer, but I have seen people whose lives have been made a misery. I have seen people whose lives have been made a misery on Universal Credit and the bedroom tax. I have seen people who are migrants who have been demonised by the Conservatives. I have seen black British citizens deported as a result of the Windrush scandal.

“No matter how much Champagne Boris Johnson drinks, shame on you for what you have done to the working class.”

He paid tribute to Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn.

He added: “He is person who has endured disgraceful character assassination by the right wing press. I am proud of what he has achieved in the Labour Party.

“Rest assured Labour will be back in government, we will end austerity and create a better life for people in East Leeds.”

The seat of Leeds East includes the Leeds City Council wards of Cross Gates and Whinmoor, Gipton and Harehills, Killingbeck and Seacroft, and Temple Newsam.

The seat has been Labour since it was established in 1955, when it was won by would-be Chancellor of the Exchequer Denis Healey, who held onto the seat until 1992. Leeds city councillor George Mudie then held the seat until he was succeeded by Richard Burgon in the 2015 election.

Going into this election, Burgon sat on a healthy majority of 12,752 from the 2017 vote.

GENERAL ELECTION 2019 RESULT, LEEDS EAST:

Green – Shahab Adris: 878

Labour – Richard Burgon: 19,464

Liberal Democrats – David Dresser: 1,796

Conservative – Jill Mortimer: 13,933

Brexit Party – Sarah Wass: 2,981

Majority: 5,531