Thank you to everyone who helped achieve the election win for Labour in Calder Valley and put your trust in us to bring the change we all need! Above is a thank you to our campaigners from the national Labour party.

Below is a message from our new Labour Member of Parliament for Calder Valley, Josh Fenton Glynn, to all residents of Calder Valley…

“Thank you to everyone in Calder Valley who has put their trust in me this election.

This is my home. I live here, I was born and raised here, and being a voice for our communities in Westminster is the greatest honour I can imagine.

I was incredibly proud to have won the vote on Thursday in every council ward across the constituency. From now, whether you voted for me or not, whether you are upper valley or lower valley, I am your MP and your voice, and I take seriously the need to represent all of you.

I would like to thank all the people who made the election possible; the counting staff and those at polling stations; the Returning Officer and so many more. I’d also like to pay tribute to the other candidates. Elections are contests of ideas, and putting yourself forward to be considered is important. I know how difficult it is to lose the vote when you’ve given your all. While Vanessa Lee, the Conservative candidate, and I don’t agree on politics, she is a good person who wants the best for our community and she gave voters a choice.

I would like to thank my amazing family who have always been here for me and supported me in so many ways. Thank you to Calder Valley Labour Party, who stuck by me as your candidate for over a decade and ran an incredible campaign of hope, teamwork and Labour values. And extra thanks to my agent Marie and organiser Helen – I couldn’t have asked for more. It is only a deep sadness to me that my agent at previous elections, Steve Sweeney, isn’t here to see us finish the job we started.

THE WORK STARTS NOW

This week, people have voted for change. An end to incompetence and corruption. An end to the spiralling cost of living.

But also for a new start. For taking climate change seriously, for rebuilding our health service and schools, for growth in our economy and giving workers more powers to tackle bad bosses.

I will be on a train to Westminster first thing on Monday, with a determination to make sure people in Calder Valley feel the change that we so desperately need.”

Josh Fenton-Glynn, MP