Labour wins across Greenwich as Efford says it must ‘restore faith in politics’

Labour won all three Greenwich borough seats comfortably in the general election – with one of the winners warning the party must “restore people’s faith in politics”.

Clive Efford overcame a Conservative challenge from former councillor Charlie Davis to claim the new Eltham & Chislehurst seat for Labour, winning by 20,069 votes to 11,640. His win is considered a gain for Labour because pollsters believe it would have elected a Tory MP in 2019.

Efford, who was celebrating his eighth election win with 44 per cent of the vote, revealed that had also been undergoing treatment for prostate cancer during the campaign, and had his final dose of radiotherapy on Tuesday. He thanked the NHS as he said the cancer was in remission.

Matt Pennycook was returned again as Greenwich & Woolwich MP and Abena Oppong-Asare was re-elected in Erith & Thamesmead as a Labour landslide swept the country.

While the boundaries of all three seats have changed, turnout fell and Efford said that his party, which is back in power after 14 years in opposition, must follow through on its promises.

“This Labour government has a duty now to restore people’s faith in politics and to deliver on the promises that it’s made,” he said. “I intend to work incredibly hard to deliver on the promises that I’ve made to increase funding in schools, to restore public services, particularly the NHS, to put police back into our communities and build the homes that are so desperately needed by so many people.

“When we talk about restoring public services or restoring the quality of life for people, it must mean what we say and we must govern in that way and bring about that change.”

Efford said he was “a very lucky individual” after being told his cancer was in remission.

“I was up at 6am every morning of the election to go do my treatment before I started the day’s campaigning,” he said, dedicating his victory to the radiotherapy department at Queen Mary’s Hospital in Sidcup.

“Far too many people do not go and get themselves checked.  And I intend to use my time in Parliament to raise the profile for prostate cancer and campaign on behalf of those men to make sure that you get yourselves checked.”

On a night where eight cabinet ministers lost their seats, a clearly-downcast Davis, who took 25.5 per cent, said it was “clear that as a party we have lost the support of the public”.

“We need to listen to what voters have told us today and over the last few weeks, months and years,” he said. 

“Voters desperately want a pragmatic, sensible, Conservative Party to vote for. As a party, we need to reflect on what we are offering the country.” 

Afterwards, he told The Greenwich Wire that “the public have decided that they’ve had enough of our party. And I think there are huge lessons for us to take.”

He said: “There are residents who want a pragmatic, sensible, Conservative party that will deliver low taxes, that will support businesses, that will keep our streets safe, and will keep our borders safe. We need to go way after this evening and make sure that over the next five years we deliver that Conservative Party so that we’re not in this position again.

“You look at history and the Conservative Party has been at its best when it’s been led by sensible, pragmatic politicians. I sincerely hope that over the next few months the Conservative party finds it in, that finds itself in that place.”

Mark Simpson for Reform UK took 7,428 votes – 16.5 per cent of the vote. Sam Gabriel won 3,079 votes for the Greens while Ulysse Abbate won 2,423 votes – just enough to save his deposit.

In a night where counting was delayed by the sheer number of postal votes that had been handed into polling stations by voters who chose not to trust Royal Mail with their ballots.

The victor in Greenwich & Woolwich, Matt Pennycook, said British voters had “chosen unity and stability over division and chaos, hope over fear, national renewal over yet more stagnation and decline”.

But he warned that among Labour’s most “fundamental” tasks was to “restore the vanishing belief that a government dedicated to service can be a force for good, that it can fix seemingly intractable problems, and that there is a progressive alternative to populism in all its forms.”

Pennycook won 23,999 votes – 56.2 per cent of the vote – with Stacy Smith of the Greens coming second with 5,633 votes (13.2 per cent). Jonathan Goff, for the Conservatives, trailed in third with 4,863 votes (11.4 per cent). 

Chris Annous, for the Liberal Democrats, won 3,865 votes (9 per cent), while Reform’s Abdoul Ndiaye got 3,305 votes (7.7 per cent).  

In Erith & Thamesmead, Abena Oppong-Asare won with 22,246 votes – 55.1 per cent of the vote. She said it was time to “time to turn the page on 14 years of chaos”.

Reform’s Michael Pastor came second with 5,944 votes – 14.7 per cent of the total and 380 votes in front of Richard Mark for the Conservatives. 

The Green candidate Sarah Barry was fourth on 3,482 votes (8.6 per cent) – while Lib Dem candidate Pierce Chalmers got 1,872 votes, losing his deposit.

Greenwich & Woolwich results: Matthew Pennycook (Labour) 23,999; Stacy Smith (Green) 5,633; Jonathan Goff (Conservative) 4,863; Chris Annous (Lib Dem) 3,865; Abdoul Ndiaye (Reform UK) 3,305; Sheikh Raquib (Workers Party) 570; Niko Omilana (Independent) 311; Priyank Bakshi (Climate) 173. Turnout: 58.1 per cent.

Eltham & Chislehurst results: Clive Efford (Labour) 20,069; Charlie Davis (Conservative) 11,640; Mark Simpson (Reform UK) 7,428; Sam Gabriel (Green) 3,079; Ulysse Abbate (Lib Dem) 2,423; Sean Stewart (Workers Party) 356; Arnold Tarling (Independent) 307; Christian Hacking (Independent) 173; John Courtneidge (Indepdendent) 91. Turnout: 61 per cent.

Erith & Thamesmead results: Abena Oppong-Asare (Labour) 22,246; Michael Pastor (Reform UK) 5,944; Richard Mark (Conservative) 5,564; Sarah Barry (Green) 3,482; Pierce Chalmers (Lib Dem) 1,872; Mohammed Shahed (Workers Party) 1,071; Diana Diamond (Independent) 200. Turnout: 51 per cent.