Labour hold on to Croydon Central seat
By Tara O’Connor BBC Local Government Correspondent
In the marginal seat of Croydon Central, Labour’s Sarah Jones managed to increase her majority against a backdrop of dwindling returns for the party nationally.
A tearful Sarah told us that she is “devastated” with the national picture but “absolutely delighted” that the party managed to hold the constituency.
She won with 27,124 votes with Conservative candidate getting 21,175 votes.
Sarah said: “I feel absolutely delighted that we have won here in Croydon Central and with an increased majority.
“But equally it is a devastating night for the Labour Party nationally. There are too many people that need a Labour government.
“We’ve been talking to about 4,000 people a week and it was clear that we had a strong chance of success. The exit poll was devastating to see the huge numbers of projected losses.”
Sarah said she would now be able to make a start on her Christmas shopping.
Her Conservative opponent Mario Creatura is also a councillor on Croydon Council.
He said: “It has been a fantastic campaign, we have 47,000 doors in Croydon Central and we have knocked on thousands of them.
“The election is a battle of sorts and sometimes you win them sometimes you lose them.”
He will be back to his council duties on Monday for back to back Cabinet and full council meetings.
But this weekend he’s planning a lie-in and walk with his dog and wife.
Croydon Council leader Tony Newman was at the count with fellow councillors.
He said: “In the national context it is a stunning result for Labour in Croydon, and first and foremost for Sarah. She has made a real impact.
“As a leader of a council I am devastated by the huge losses elsewhere in the country.”
The full results are:
Sarah Jones, Labour: 27,124
Mario Creatura, Conservative: 21,175
Simon Sprague, Liberal Democrats: 3,532
Esther Sutton, The Green Party: 1,215
Peter Sonnex, Brexit Party: 999
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