BLAENAU Gwent has elected Labour’s Nick Smith as MP for a second term running with a 40 per cent majority.

Mr Smith, who was first elected in 2010, received 57.9 per cent of votes cast with Ukip’s Susan Boucher declared second with 17.9 per cent of the votes.

Tonight’s result shows a rise in Labour’s majority from 32.5 per cent in the 2010 election to 40 per cent. Alun Davies AM said so far this is the only seat in the UK where Labour have increased their majority. Mr Smith said he was “very pleased” with his re-election.

Third was Conservative Tracey West who received 10.8 per cent, 3,419 votes. Following her was Plaid Cymru’s Steffan Lewis with 8.97 per cent, 2849 votes, and then Green candidate Mark Pond, who received 2.3 per cent, 738 votes.

 

 

Last was Liberal Democrat Sam Ellis Rees, who did not attend the count, with 620 votes, 1.95 per cent.

Ukip has seen a big jump from fourth place in 2010 to second place last night, a rise from 1.5 per cent of the vote in 2010 to 17 per cent.

Ms Boucher said her campaign has been “fantastic”. She said: “I have had phone calls from people saying they are switching to Ukip, people in their 70s who have been lifetime Labour supporters.

The turnout for Blaenau Gwent was 31,757, or 61.86 per cent, slightly lower than 2010’s figure of 32,395, or 61.94 per cent, which Mr Smith MP called “disappointing”.

In his speech following the result, Plaid’s Steffan Lewis said he was “proud of Blaenau Gwent”. He said: “Blaenau Gwent has rejected the politics of bigotry which seeks to divide”. A Ukip supporter later said he found Mr Lewis’ words “disgusting”.

The count, at Ebbw Vale Sports Centre, was plunged into darkness for a few minutes at 1am after the timer switched the lights off. Counting officers continued using their mobile phone torches.

Mark Pond was the first Green candidate in Blaenau Gwent and said the campaign and result was “a lot better than I was expecting”.