Ruth Cadbury Re-elected With Reduced Majority

Labour MP holds in Brentford & Isleworth during miserable night for her party

Ruth Cadbury at the count

Ruth Cadbury has comfortably retained her seat for Labour in Brentford & Isleworth. Her victory was a relatively positive moment for the party which looks on course nationally to possibly register its worst result since 1935.

She received 29,266 votes (compared to her 35,364 in 2017), a decrease on her 57.4% share of the vote last time out to just over half the votes cast. That previous victory was the result of a 13.6% swing in her direction. Her overall majority did not decrease as markedly in 2019 because the vote for the Conservative candidate Seena Shah also saw a significant decline.

The turnout was 68% a decrease on the 2017 figure of 72.4% in Brentford and Isleworth,

Ms Cadbury said afterwards, ''It is an honour to be re-elected to represent our vibrant and diverse community for another term in Parliament. I promise that I will keep working hard to return the trust you've placed in me, listen to your concerns and respond your needs, whilst also reflecting values of decency, compassion and openness.

"No matter how you voted I promise that I will continue to work hard to represent everyone on both local and national issues. I have always said that I am willing to work with anyone to make our local area a better place to live, and I look forward to continuing to campaign on a range of issues.

"I'd like to thank the amazing set of volunteers who helped get me re-elected- this would not be possible without you. I'd also like to thank all the election staff and the police who ensured that the poll went smoothly, as well as the other candidates here.

"I know that lots of people both locally and across the country are extremely upset about the national results last night. This is a feeling I share. I am dismayed to see many talented and experienced colleagues and friends lose their seats last night. They have have represented their communities and our party so ably, and I dismayed that we now face at least 5 years of a Conservative majority government that is determined to take the UK out of the EU come what may."

Seena Shah the Conservative Party candidate, at the count

A YouGov poll prior to the election had rated Brentford & Isleworth as ‘likely Labour’, and showed Ruth Cadbury getting around 45% of the vote with Seena Shah under 40% and Helen Cross just over 10%, a five percentage point increase on the Lib Dems' performance with Joe Bourke in 2017.

Daniel Goldsmith of the Green Party (middle) watches the count

Despite the difficulties for a Conservative candidate who was a first-timer, from outside the area, and also a Brexiteer in a constituency which voted 56.7% to Remain Ms Shah said that she was well received on the doorsteps, particularly amongst the Indian communities who were incensed at the Labour Party stance on Kashmir. She said apart from Brexit, which many people didn't want to discuss, crime and safety were the big issues she heard from voters.

Local councillors from Chiswick, Gabriella Giles, John Todd and Jo Biddolph

The 2017 general election was notable for the change in the the traditional Conservative vote in Chiswick as diehard supporters switched allegiances.

The two Labour candidates benefited from a large swing to the Labour Party in the snap election called by then Prime Minister Theresa May. It was later attributed to anger over Brexit in a largely 'Remain' area, an increase in young people postal voting, and concern over the Conservative's social care plans.

Dubbed the 'Revenge of the Remainers' the swing towards Labour in Chiswick, estimated at over 18% for local MP Ruth Cadbury (Brentford & Isleworth) gave her and Labour's Rupa Huq (Ealing Central & Acton) another chance to represent the constituency in Parliament but this time with five figure majorities rather than wafer thin ones.

Labour also benefited from a decision by the Green Party candidate Diana Scott, to stand down, which gave Ruth Cadbury extra votes. This time there was no election agreement and the Green Party candidate was Daniel Goldsmith from Chiswick.

December 14, 2019