Welsh speaker in shock by-election win in Chesham and Amersham
A fluent Welsh speaker who previously contested the seats of Ynys Môn and Arfon has won a shock by-election victory for the Liberal Democrats in the Conservative stronghold of Chesham and Amersham.
Sarah Green from Corwen was victorious in a by-election called after the death of former Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan, who grew up in the south of Wales, meaning that the seat in Buckinghamshire will have two representatives in a row with a Welsh connection and some Welsh-speaking ability.
The Aberystwyth University alumna was selected as the Lib Dem candidate for the Ynys Môn constituency for the 2005 general election, where she finished fifth, She next contested Arfon at the 2010 general election, where she finished fourth.
However, in Chesham and Amersham the Liberal Democrats pulled off a stunning victory, overturning a 16,000 majority in the seat that has always voted Conservative.
The full result was:
- Sarah Green (Liberal Democrat): 21,517
- Peter Fleet (Conservative): 13,489
- Carolyne Culver (Green Party): 1,480
- Natasa Pantelic (Labour): 622
- Alex Wilson (Reform UK): 414
- Carla Gregory (Breakthrough Party): 197
- Adrian Oliver (Freedom Alliance): 134
- Brendan Donnelly (Rejoin EU): 101
- Lib Dem majority: 8,028
Turnout: 52% (37,954)
Sarah Green said at her victory speech that she was “humbled by the faith you have placed in me” and promised she would hold the government to account.
“This Conservative party has taken people across the country for granted for far too long,” she said.
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Great news!
A ray of Lib Dem sunshine breaks through the dark Tory clouds.
Congratulations/Llongyfarchiadau Sarah Green MP
Prifysgol Aberystwyth is getting a better reputation than many an Oxford college these days…rightly so.
There’s a message here for Mark Drakeford and Welsh Labour. On this result there won’t be a labour government in Westminster for decades or even longer and before the excuses – tory seat, rich England etc etc – labour is the official opposition and this must count as the worst ever result for an opposition. So… a Boris, right wing, reactionary, Eton educated elite, devolution sniping government until far into the distance future. Welsh Labour has a choice, Wouldn’t you rather be in a successful, economically and socially strong independent nation? Many labour members and supporters think so; it’s time… Read more »
In 2017 Labour received around 11,000 votes. Yesterday the Labour candidate was down to 622!
My dad had to leave Wales for work as well.
They will be raising a glass in the Owain Glyndwr Hotel in Corwen tonight!
No they won’t, it’s still closed, and for sale.
Drwg gen i, In spirit then, how long has it been on the market? Can’t say I’ve been that way for a year or two for some reason…sad to hear that really.
Da iawn 😊