Greg storms home in General Election

GREG Barker swept to a third term as MP for Bexhill and Battle last night with a majority of almost 13,000.

His nearest rival, Lib Dem candidate Mary Varrall, has vowed to return for the next election, calling the increase in her vote "a significant victory".

"This matters a great deal because I'm standing on my record," the Conservative MP said. "It was a pretty nasty campaign in Bexhill and Battle, and the fact that more than 50 per cent of constituents stuck by me is terrific.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"I'm aware that not everyone voted for me and I want to remind people that I'm there for everyone.

"Tomorrow morning my constituency office door will be open."

Speaking after the result was announced in a packed De La Warr Pavilion auditorium at around 2.50am this morning (Friday), Mr Barker set out the priorities for his constituency.

A cheer went up from Conservative councillors, both local and county, as Mr Barker promised to concentrate on regenerating Bexhill town centre, on safeguarding rail links to London, and on blocking the potential landfill site at Ashdown Brickworks.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"It's going to be a real challenge," he said, "but I promise to guard the quality of life for locals."

Mr Barker said he had been hurt by the aggressive campaign of Trust Party challenger Stuart Wheeler, who finished fourth with 2,699 votes, adding: "the people of Bexhill and Battle ultimately were able to say it better than I can."

East Sussex County Councillor John Barnes, acting as Mr Barker's agent, was more forthcoming, saying: "It's a clobbering result, richly deserved. I think Greg can be very happy. It's probably even more satisfying than winning a libel action."

Legal action is already underway between Mr Wheeler and Mr Barker, sparked by a series of personal exchanges in two hustings debates leading up to the election, and by some of Mr Wheeler's campaign literature, which Mr Barker claims is defamatory.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Stuart Wheeler would not say if the Trust Party, which he founded just months ago to fight this campaign, would be fielding candidates in the future.

Mary Varrall, who added 4,000 extra votes to her tally since the 2005 General Election, said she would be shadowing Mr Barker until the next election.

James Royston, the Labour candidate who finished third with 6,524 votes, said Mr Barker faced a difficult task to "restore faith in British politics".

Neil Jackson, the first British National Party candidate to stand in Bexhill and Battle, came last with 1,950 votes.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

"This is the first time we have stood in Bexhill and Battle," he said. "And it won't be the last. We will be back and we will be stronger, because we are the only party to put Britain first."

For more on the election, see our special supplement, available in newsagents today (Friday May 7).

Related topics: