Calls for 'hope over fear' as Hamilton increases his majority in Leeds North East

The Labour candidate retained his seat with a slightly increased majority, but admitted the election had been “tough” and that his party now had to reunite the country.

Speaking at the count at the First Direct Arena, he said: “This election has been tough. It has been divided by Brexit – it is the new fault line in our politics.

“Our constituency has long been a remain seat. But I think we have a duty to bring people together again, and one of the great things about Leeds North East is the diverse community.

“When people live together in harmony as they do in North East Leeds, fear disappears.

“What has characterised this campaign is the politics of fear against the politics of hope which my party tried to put forward in this campaign.”

The Leeds North East constituency includes the Leeds City Council wards of Alwoodley, Chapel Allerton, Moortown, and Roundhay.

The seat had traditionally been a Conservative stronghold, being held by Tim Kirkhope until Tony Blair’s landslide 1997 election victory when it was taken by Labour’s Fabian Hamilton, who had held onto the seat ever since.

Indeed, going into this election Hamilton enjoyed a majority of 16,445 votes ahead of his nearest rival in the 2017 vote.

RESULTS

Conservative – Amjad Bashir: 11,985

Alliance for Green Socialism – Celia Foote: 176

Labour – Fabian Hamilton: 29,024

Liberal Democrats – Jon Hannah: 5,665

Green – Rachel Hartshorne: 1,931

Brexit Party – Inaya Iman: 1,769