ELMET AND ROTHWELL: Stunning victory for Tories in Labour target seat

The Conservative Party swatted aside an estimated Labour majority of more than 6,000 in the newly-formed constituency of Elmet and Rothwell to romp home by some 4,500 votes.

The new seat has been formed from the ashes of the old Elmet constituency in the eastern suburbs of the city, and takes in Garforth, Swillington, Harewood, Kippax, Methley and Wetherby, as well as Rothwell.

With a number of key Labour-supporting areas within its boundaries, the vote was expected to be nail-bitingly close. Such was the uncertainty surrounding it, it had only been ranked at number 107 on the Tory's target list.

But a massive swing in votes of almost 10 per cent left even the winning Tory candidate Alec Shelbrooke admitting his surprised at the margin of his success.

"It is a resounding victory," he said. "It's a testament to all the hard work which everybody's put in, and I'm absolutely determined to live up to the hopes people have invested in me.

"The guys had asked me what I thought I could get, and I'd been saying 1,000, maybe 2,000 ahead at the most. It really is a fantastic victory."

Mr Shelbrooke said he was keen now to turn his attention to helping local businesses pull themselves from the current economic mire.

"For me it's now about trying to make sure we can grow the economy, grow the numbers of jobs which are desperately wanted, and offer the job security to people which is desperately needed," he said.

Mr Shelbrooke also paid tribute to his predecessor in the old Elmet seat, former Labour MP Colin Burgon, who had decided not to run again after 13 years in power.

Mr Burgon announced his decision to "pursue other interests" last year, leaving with a parting shot at the New Labour leadership.

He described its approach to economics as "wrong" and "lacking the values that have served this party well".

His decision to stand down may ultimately have proved fatal to Labour's chances.

In a significant number of other constituencies around the country – including nearby Pudsey – it appears the Labour vote suffered particularly badly in areas where the existing MP had chosen not to run for office again.

Mr Burgon's replacement as Labour candidate, James Lewis, is no stranger to Mr Shelbrooke, having faced him across the council chamber at Leeds City Council for the past few years.

Mr Lewis said that following his defeat he would soon be back to business as a local politician.

"The issues which people raised on the doorstep - jobs, the economy, public services - will not be going away," he said.

"I intend to continue to fight for those issues as a local councillor in the area, and I intend to work for all those people who put their trust in me."

Their Liberal Democrat opponent, Stewart Golton, is also a city councillor, but despite his high-profile position in charge of the city's children's services department, he was unable to make any significant impact on the lead of the other main parties.

The Liberal Democrats remain rooted in third place with just over 9,000 votes – less than half that achieved by their nearest rivals.

The Tory victory on Thursday night restores them to a Leeds suburb which they held from the creation of the Elmet seat in 1983 right up until Labour's landslide victory in 1997.

Mr Shelbrooke said he was particularly pleased to have polled well in traditional Labour heartland areas such as Kippax.

As with many marginal seats in this year's election, turnout was notably high - reaching almost 72 per cent.

This was an increase of around three per cent on the numbers who turned out to vote in the 2005 poll, in the old Elmet constituency.

Massive swing ensures victory

Conservatives win with massive 10 per cent swing.

Trailing by over 6,000 votes, they take the seat with a 4,500 majority.

Seat was newly-formed for this election in place of old Elmet seat.

Takes in Garforth, Swillington, Harewood, Kippax, Rothwell, Wetherby.

Former Labour MP Colin Burgon stood down after 13 years in office.

Turn-out was up three per cent and well above the national average.