THE first MP for the new seat of North East Somerset and Hanham is Labour’s Dan Norris.
He beat the prominent Conservative Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg in the general election on July 4, gaining 20,739 votes to his rival’s 15,420, with Reform UK in third place with 7,424 votes.
In his concession speech, Sir Jacob congratulated Mr Norris and Labour leader Keir Starmer and thanked his team and constituency staff. He ended by quoting Chitty Chitty Bang Bang inventor Caracatus Potts: “From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success.”
In his acceptance speech, Mr Norris, who was defeated by Sir Jacob in 2010 under previous constituency boundaries, thanked supporters, adding: “I also want to thank Jacob Rees-Mogg. He has done a very good job in supporting his constituency – up until now obviously. I know exactly how that feels because Mr Rees-Mogg gave me that compliment 14 years ago and I have been able to return that.”
In North East Somerset and Hanham, and in many areas across the country, a swing from Conservatives to Reform was a factor in the Labour win. Mr Norris said: “I think any politician who goes away — even though there’s going to be a big Labour landslide — thinking that politicians have given them a big slap on the back would be very foolish.
“Because what became clear in the campaign was the public were very kind and courteous to me but they are very disillusioned with politics and politicians as a whole. And what I take away from that is integrity and honesty are now essential requirements to reinstate in our political system.”
The Liberal Democrats, who fielded veteran local councillor and former council leader Dine Romero, came fourth with 3,878 votes. The Green Party’s Edmund Cannon was fourth, with 3,378 votes, and independent candidate Nicholas Hales fifth, with 231.
Coming last in the seat was Barmy Brunch, the Monster Raving Loony Party candidate, with 211 votes. He stood on a platform of bringing in a statutory brunch hour but also doing more on mental health, wearing a striking balaclava patterned with baked beans and breakfast foods.
Mr Norris’s win was part of a big win nationally for Labour, with the Liberal Democrats also taking a record number of seats, particularly in the West Country.
Mr Norris is also the West of England Metro Mayor, a major role in which his term lasts until May 2025. He intends to continue until the mayoral election next year.
He said: “Until at least next May I will do both jobs. And that makes sense because to call a by-election when you’ve got an electorate of about a million people is a hugely expensive thing, to have an election only to have it a few months later would be nonsensical. Also, to allow me to work out how I can do both jobs and whether that’s possible in the longer term and obviously I will be taking soundings. But there’s a lot of precedents in politics. Many MPs are ministers for example. I have done that myself and I think it’s very similar to being a regional mayor so I think it’s doable. But I’m not going to make a decision now. It’s important to get a real sense of it and make an informed and sensible decision.”
Dan Jarvis, who has been MP for Barnsley Central and later Barnsley North since 2011, was also the Metro Mayor of South Yorkshire between 2018 and 2022.
Mr Norris, who was voted in as Metro Mayor in 2021, joined his counterparts in July at a meeting of regional mayors at 10 Downing Street with the new Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer and the Deputy Prime Minister Angela Rayner. The new government is keen to devolve more powers to Metro Mayors.
By John Wimperis, Local Democracy Reporting Service
RESULTS
Dan Norris (Labour) 20,739
Sir Jacob Rees-Mogg (Con) 15,420
Paul MacDonnell (Reform) 7,424
Dine Romero (Lib Dem) 3,878
Edmund Cannon (Green) 3,222
Nicholas Hales (Independent) 231
Barmy Brunch (Monster Raving Loony Party) 211