00:00I'm absolutely delighted to be elected as the Member of Parliament for East Grinstead,
00:06Uxbridge and the Villages. So it's been a really busy, hard-fought election. I can't
00:12fault my fellow candidates, it's been a good-natured tussle but I'm very pleased to have prevailed
00:20and may I thank the voters who put their trust in me to be their voice in Westminster.
00:27Well it's been very clear talking to people on the doorsteps that the new constituency
00:32and being heard and it really matters. The fact that it spreads between East and West Sussex,
00:38therefore sometimes they feel that the roads issues aren't attended to, they might feel a
00:43bit too far away from Chichester and certainly from Lewis, so roads have come up very commonly
00:48so making sure that we're helping people with that and those casework issues, the things that
00:53matter to people, housing, they're opportunities for young people. So all of this is absolutely in
00:59the inbox and I've already had people asking for surgeries, they want the support of their local
01:05MP and I will be that local voice, that person they can see in the community standing up for them
01:10and taking their concerns to Westminster. I do hereby declare that Mims Davies is duly
01:16elected to serve as Member of Parliament for the East Grinstead and Upfield constituency.
01:22Good morning everybody and thank you very much for bearing with us through the night. May I please
01:31thank the returning officer, the election teams, all of those in the polling stations, those who
01:40have been at the count overnight and in this morning, making sure that we have a free and
01:48fair election and thank you to the returning officer and our local police for this. May I turn
01:57to my amazing team. I'm so proud and honoured to be the Member of Parliament for the new constituency
02:07of East Grinstead, Upfield and the villages. It is truly humbling to take this honour this morning.
02:17May I turn to my fellow candidates who have been astoundingly lovely. So thank you very much
02:24for a really hard-fought, close election in really positive terms. All candidates standing
02:36in the election of course have wanted to have the trust put into them that I have had for this
02:44wonderful new constituency and I will look forward to giving a voice to those who have put
02:52that trust in me on the ballot and those who didn't. Two great, truly great towns and many
03:01magnificent villages and special communities I am truly honoured to represent. On the wider picture
03:11it's been a difficult night. Despite the height of summer it has been a dark night and dark
03:20morning for the Conservative Party despite some bright spots. But to my friends, supporters and
03:28the voters, those with Conservative values and those who have other values, I will stand up for
03:36all of you in tough times. And it's now time for my party and our own local teams to make sure that
03:46those Conservative voices and values are heard and respected. We will hold the new Prime Minister
03:54and Government to account, standing up for lower taxes, immigration, jobs, apprenticeships,
04:02aspirations and opportunities and local investment and chances for our young people
04:09in our wonderful communities. And we will make sure that there is not just a veneer of change.
04:17Now after some sleep I will be holding this new Government to account, delivering on a commitment
04:24to the British people and working for all voters in this wonderful constituency. May I close by
04:31thanking my agent, Roy. Have you got the app, Roy? Yay! My chairman, Helen, all my family and friends,
04:42Sarah, my DCP, Ginny, Mandy, all the amazing team of special volunteers who support us all along
04:49and those standing here will feel the same. And thank you to everybody and may I wish you a good
04:58morning and thank you East Springstead, Upfield and the Villages for delivering for our party
05:04a wonderful night. Thank you.
Comments