The new South Dorset MP has said he’s “ready to hit the ground running” following his election win.
The general election saw the Labour Party gain the South Dorset seat from the Conservatives in a tightly fought contest.
Richard Drax lost his seat after 14 years as the MP.
READ MORE: General Election 2024: Labour's Lloyd Hatton wins South Dorset
It came after Labour's landslide election win nationally with Sir Keir Starmer becoming the UK's first Labour prime minister since 2010.
Newly elected Labour MP Lloyd Hatton has described his win as a “fantastic result” for both South Dorset and the nation.
He said: “It’s a real privilege to represent my home town. It’s brilliant. We knew the result would be close but we’re so thrilled we managed to pull off a win and give the people in South Dorset a chance for change.
“I am ready to hit the ground running. I have heard people crying out for change as they are fed up with the chaos and confusion under the Conservatives and they’re looking for people to get on with the job and I want to deliver as soon as I can.”
Mr Hatton has confirmed his three main priorities will be improving the NHS, boosting the business trade and tackling environmental challenges.
He added: “There are people who find it difficult to see an NHS dentist or go to a GP appointment as they get stuck in a very long waiting list. We need to get the NHS back on its feet and deliver world class healthcare in Dorset.
“I also want to revitalise our town centre and the high streets. Since the pandemic a lot of businesses have struggled. I want to work with the government and businesses to breathe new life into the town centre."
He added: “We must stand up for beautiful local environment that’s at the heart of the Jurassic Coast constituency. It’s beautiful but it’s at risk because of the sewage spillage scandal with water firms pouring it into the sea and other bits of environmental vandalism that I want to stand up against.”
The election saw Labour receive 15,659 votes, while Conservatives received 14,611 votes.
Morgan Young of Reform came third (8,168 votes) beating Lid Dem candidate Matt Bell who received 8,017 votes.
Mr Hatton expressed his gratitude to the people who voted for him and supported him through his campaign.
He said: “I want to say thank you to the good people of South Dorset. It’s a privilege to represent the home town. I’ll always listen even if you agree or disagree. The officer door is always open and I’ll be here to represent you.”
Mr Hatton, 28, previously divided his time between Weymouth and London where he has lived for the past four years and works as a researcher, however, he has now relocated to Weymouth as a full-time resident.
He grew up in Weymouth and attended local schools. He is a former youth parliament member, which he said gave him a "taste for politics" at a young age.
Result:
Lloyd Hatton, Labour: 15,659
Richard Drax, Conservative: 14,611
Morgan Young, Reform: 8,168
Matt Bell, Liberal Democrats: 8,017
Catherine Bennett, Green: 2,153
Joy Wilson, Independent: 192
Giovanna Lewis, Independent:: 185
Rosie Morrell, Everyone is God: 52
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