As expected, Labour have won a sweeping victory and the Conservatives got their expected drubbing, although turnout was on the low side (second lowest in the last 100 years, at about 60%). Perhaps that will the the subject of my first letter to my new MP (Labour), congratulating him but asking what thoughts he has on increasing participation in future? He got a solid victory over the outgoing Conservative MP but the total Labour vote barely shifted. Most of the change appears to have been many former Conservative votes going to Reform (now the third party in the area although with less than half of the Labour share) and a few going to the Greens.

Labour did get their win. Now they have to work out what they are actually going to do and how much they can push towards their promises without actions they said they would avoid.