Hayes re-elected as MP by seven out of ten voters

John Hayes was elected for his sixth term as MP for South Holland and The Deepings with almost 70 per cent of the vote.

The Conservative candidate polled almost 25,000 more votes than second-placed Voyteck Kowalewski (Labour Party).

UKIP’s Nicola Jane Smith was third with 2,185 votes but, along with Independent candidate Rick Stringer who finished last on 342, did not even attend the count at Springfields Events Centre in Spalding overnight on Thursday (June 8).

Liberal Democrat candidate Julia Cambridge finished fourth of the sixth candidates, with 1,433 votes, ahead of Daniel Wilshire (Green Party) on 894.

There were 50,399 ballot papers received and the 65.8 per cent turnout was up marginally on the 2015 General Election.

Mr Hayes received 35,179 votes. At 69.9 per cent, his share of the vote was up 10.4 per cent on the last poll.

Acting returning officer Anna Graves announces the result, alongside (from left) John Hayes, Daniel Wilshire, Julia Cambridge and Voyteck Kowalewski.

Moments after the result was announced at 2.45am on Friday, Mr Hayes said: “When you stand for election you effectively reapply for your job. And people don’t judge or gauge you in the space of a few weeks, they judge and gauge you over the whole time you serve them and their interests. I knew that and I guess you did too.

“But I wouldn’t have been able to win this election without the support of a superb team, including my campaign manager Gary Porter and my agent Helen (Davies) who has done a superb job for me.

“I had about 180 people in my campaign and visited just about every part of the constituency over the past few weeks, meeting thousands of people.”

He added: “Thank you everyone for re-electing me. It may be by the end of the night that this is the safest seat in Britain for the Conservative Party.”

Mr Hayes paid further tribute to all local Tories. He said their effort had made the party the “people’s party in South Holland and The Deepings”. 

Mr Kowalewski, who was proud of the “positive” campaign he had run, congratulated Mr Hayes and said it was “an honour” to stand against him.

He added: “I spoke to many people during the campaign and I realised how valued you are as the constituency MP.”