News / Politics
Damien Egan wins Bristol North East
Damien Egan has been elected as the MP of new constituency Bristol North East.
The politician was the MP for Kingswood for just five months after he overturned an 11,000 Tory majority to secure the seat in February.
Bristol North East was contested for the first time in 2024’s general election after boundary changes.
Thanking his family, husband and fellow party members after the declaration at City Academy in Redfield in the early hours of Friday morning, Egan said he felt “relieved” that Bristol North East had “joined Britain in voting for change”.
“But the road ahead and reality is going to be tough after 14 years of Conservative decline.”
Darren Jones (left), who has just been elected as MP of Bristol North West for a third term, and Damien Egan (right) – photo: Betty Woolerton
The turnout in Bristol North East was 60.1 per cent, with 42,149 ballot papers returned from an electorate of 70,076.
Here are the full results:
- Asif Ali (independent): 1,029
- Damien Egan (Labour): 19,004
- Lorraine Francis (Green): 7,837
- Louise Harris (Lib Dem): 1,964
- Rose Hulse (Conservative): 6,216
- Anthony Michael New (Reform UK): 5,418
- Dan Smart (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition): 399
- Tommy Trueman (Social Democratic Party): 122
In July 2023, Egan beat Bristol mayor Marvin Rees to be selected as the Labour candidate for the new Bristol North East constituency. He went on to resign from his role as mayor of Lewisham to run in the Kingswood by-election.
The Kingswood constituency has been abolished and divided into two new constituencies, Bristol North East constituency and Somerset North East & Hanham.
Bristol North East is unusually made up of wards within two neighbouring local authorities, including Lockleaze, Eastville and Hillfields within Bristol City Council, and Staple Hill and Mangotsfield in South Glos.
This was the reaction from Labour party campaigners as the results of Bristol North East were declared at City Academy – photo: Betty Woolerton
Egan was born in Ireland but grew up in Kingswood and Staple Hill. He attended Hanham Woods Academy and his first job was working in the Co-op supermarket in Downend.
Addressing journalists and campaigners in his victory speech, Egan said: “So many I speak I are working such long hours and have so little for show for it at the end of the month.
“I hear form people who haven’t had holidays for years.
“Meals out are a rarity, treats for the children: families are worried about just covering the bills.
“The work to fix our country needs to start immediately and it will.
“It will take time but Labour have improved Britain before and we can do it again.”
Main photo: Betty Woolerton
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