Lisa Nandy has been chosen by the people of Wigan to continue representing them in Parliament. After 14 years, Lisa’s role will now be in Government as Labour vows to rebuild the UK.
There was a clear choice in Wigan, with 19,401 people backing Labour – a Labour majority of 9,549. Reform came a distant second and it’s clear from the figures and conversations on the doorstep that most 2019 Tory voters chose Reform.
A big thank you!
Lisa and Wigan CLP would like to thank all members, supporters and voters who have put their faith in Labour.
Lisa said in her speech at the count: “I made a solemn promise to the people of Wigan that after years of them feeling that Labour had left them, that I would fight with every breath in my body to bring Labour home to people in Wigan and towns like ours that built our party, built our movement and gifted us three Labour governments in 100 years that changed people’s lives.
“It is humbling to stand here after we worked so hard to change the Labour Party and put it back into the service of working-class people, and to feel the trust returned.
“And to those of you who didn’t feel you could trust us this time, I say to you, that for 14 years the people of Wigan have had my back. And I will always have yours, and I will never stop fighting for you.
“I have taken this election result as my instruction to go out and fight for the country that we have believed in all of our lives but never yet quite seen. We have fought, and fought and fought for 14 dark, divisive years.
“But now is the moment that we get to build that country – and my promise to you is that with Keir Starmer and the team under Labour, you will have a Labour Government that fights alongside you, and builds that country every step of the way.
“It has been the privilege of my life to represent Wigan for 14 years – thank you so much for trusting me to do ut again. I will never, ever let you down.”
The rise of the right
There was a notable divide in the left and right-wing vote in Wigan, as with much of the country. We are a party that is united and will not tolerate racism, fascism or nasty divisive politics.
It has always been harder to win left-wing seats due to the number of established parties on the left and there is no doubt that the Tories lost out to Reform on the night.
Lisa said: “And I want to say to those people who brought their nasty, hate-filled, racist politics to our town: the history of Wigan is a history of working-class people who for 100 years have driven you and your hate out of our town over and over again. So take this result tonight as your marching orders: we are a better town than you. You are not welcome here. Take your nasty, divisive rhetoric elsewhere because we have got a job to do.”
Despite the division in politics at the moment, Lisa, Sir Keir and the rest of the Government will now work on delivering its promises in the Labour manifesto: there is a mountain to climb but Labour can conquer the challenge.
The six first steps are just the start – please get involved in your local Labour party and help positive politics rebuild our country. Start by joining Labour and stay informed of change as it happens locally!