'Very bad night for Labour' admits Hilary Benn as he keeps Leeds Central

Mr Benn gained a large majority, with 30,413 votes, 19,270 ahead of nearest challenger, Conservative candidate Peter Fortune, but was slightly reduced from his 2017 majority.

He added it was a night for Labour “to reflect” on its national results.

“This is a very bad night for the Labour Party,” he said. “And a very bad night for all those who work hard for our cause, and all those who fear what five more years of Conservatives will do.

On Boris Johnson’s Brexit plans, he added: “It will lessen Britain’s influence in the world at the very moment when we need to work with our closest neighbours to tackle climate change and keep us safe.

“The Labour Party will have to reflect on this result. In this new Parliament we will stand up for the people we represent.

“Elections and Prime Ministers will come and go, but our Labour values will endure, and in time we will win.”

Leeds Central covers the council wards of Beeston and Holbeck, Burmantofts and Richmond Hill, City and Hunslet, Hyde Park and Woodhouse, and Middleton Park.

The constituency has returned a Labour MP since it was created in its current form in 1983. It has only ever been held by two MPs: Derek Fatchett until 1999, then Mr Benn, who is the current incumbent.

Going into this election, Mr Benn sat on a healthy majority of 23,698 – getting more than three times the number of votes from his nearest challenger in the 2017 vote.

RESULT: LEEDS CENTRAL

Labour – Hilary Benn – 30,413

Green – Ed Carlisle – 2,105

SDP – William Clouston – 281

Conservative – Peter Fortune – 11,143

Liberal Democrats – Jack Holland – 2,343

Brexit Party – Paul Thomas – 2,999