Jeff Smith was re-elected as MP for Manchester Withington at last week’s General Election with 67.8% of the vote.

He commented:

“I would like to thank everyone across Withington, Chorlton, Didsbury, Burnage and South Fallowfield who voted for me at the general election.

“It’s been an honour to represent the area where I grew up and still live, and I am grateful for the trust that the people of South Manchester have shown in me and the Labour Party.

“Despite the very positive results for Labour in Manchester, it was a terrible night for the party in the rest of the country. We clearly need to have an honest appraisal of why we failed so badly to deliver a Labour victory. We need to learn lessons, and be informed by the facts and by listening to the views of voters across the country on why they didn’t trust us to form a government.

“Whatever the next five years of conservative government may bring, I will continue to work hard to make sure the voices of the people of South Manchester are heard in Parliament, and I’ll always be there for local people who need help. Labour will challenge the government on our failing public services, increasing poverty and homelessness, investment in the North and, the most important issue we’ll face over the next decade – climate change.”

The result in full was as follows:

Jeff Smith (Labour)- 35,902

John Leech (Liberal Democrats)- 7,997

Shengke Zhi (Conservative)- 5,820

Lucy Bannister (Green)- 1,968

Stephen Ward (Brexit Party)- 1,308