In a significant outcome of the 2024 general election, Conservative candidate Edward Agar has emerged victorious in the newly established Melton & Syston constituency with 17,526 votes.
The votes were counted during a special private event in Melton Town centre tonight. The votes declared that there was a turn out of 62.2%.
The other results of the night are:
MARILYN MARY GORDON (INDEPENDENT) - 517
ZAFRAN KHAN (LABOUR) - 12,130
TECK KHONG (ALIANCE FOR DEMOCRACY AND FREEDOM) - 348
ANDY KONIECZKO (LIB DEM) - 2,547
ALASTAIR MCQUILLAN (GREEN) - 3,685
PETE MORRIS (REFORM) - 8,945
MATT SHOULER - REJOIN EU - 288
There were some spoilt papers on the night as follows:
Voting for more candidates than allowed: 34
Writing or mark by which voter could be identified: 1
Unmarked or void: 128
Rejected: 163
Number issued. 46,149.
The creation of the Melton & Syston constituency was part of a nationwide boundary review aimed at better representing the population distribution across the UK. The seat incorporates areas from the former Rutland and Melton, and Charnwood constituencies.
It includes the towns of Melton Mowbray and Syston, as well as several surrounding villages, combining rural and suburban communities with diverse economic and social backgrounds.
Edward, who is a seasoned politician and a familiar face within Conservative circles, said during his campaign that he would focus his plan on improving local service, including transport and getting funding for the southern leg of the Melton bypass. He also said he would focus on health, safety hotspots in the Vale and investment in schools and tackling flooding.
Melton & Syston MP Edward Argar speaking following the results on Friday morning. Photo: NEMM
His past political career includes being appointed Minister of State at the Ministry of Justice on 27th October 2022.
He was previously Chief Secretary to the Treasury between 14 October 2022 and 27 October 2022 and was Paymaster General and Minister for the Cabinet Office.
Labour's Zafran Khan came second in the election for Melton & Syston. Photo: NEMM
He was Minister of State at the Department of Health and Social Care between 2019 and 2022.
He was also Parliamentary Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Justice between 14 June 2018 and 10 September 2019.
He was elected as Conservative MP for Charnwood in 2015.
Speaking after the result Mr Argar said: "Thank you very much on what I have to say is a truly dreadful night for my party. But the people have spoken across the Country and democracy, whatever the verdict it turns, is something we're all reminded we must cherish and be incredibly grateful for.
"With that in mind, thank you to the Returning Officer, to all of the electoral staff and everyone in this hall who I suspect are dying to get home."
He went on to add his thanks to the police and the people who make democracy happen.
He added: "Also thanks to my fellow candidates, because particulary in this day and age in the nature of politics it takes a lot for someone to put themselves forward and put their name on a ballot paper and engage in an election campaign and without candidates or parties, we wouldn't have the democracy we all cherish."
He also thanked his agent and his entire team.
He went on to say: "Thank you to my brilliant, wonderful and amazing Wife, Tish, for putting up with me throughout all this but more broadly and the biggest thanks of all of course to the people of Melton & Syston. After 9 years as a Member Of Parliament for Charnwood it is a huge privilege to have been re-elected for this new constituency and for the trust that's been placed in me by the people of this constituency."
"And we know as we look at the results this evening that trust is a rare sometimes very rare commodity in politics. So for the trust that you have all placed in me, I will strive every day to repay that trust and to serve the people of Melton & Syston however they voted, as their local voice and their representative in Parliament."
As Edward Agar MP takes his seat in Parliament, the focus will be on how effectively he can deliver on his campaign promises and address the concerns of his constituents.
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