Sir Mark Spencer loses seat at General Election

He had served as Farming Minister since September 2022 when he was appointed by then Prime Minister Liz Truss

clock • 2 min read
As results starting to come through in the early hours of the morning, the former Farming Minister had only managed to gain 13,398 votes compared to Labour's Michelle Welsh, who won 18,841 seats.
Image:

As results starting to come through in the early hours of the morning, the former Farming Minister had only managed to gain 13,398 votes compared to Labour's Michelle Welsh, who won 18,841 seats.

Sir Mark Spencer has lost his Sherwood Forest seat at the General Election.

As results starting to come through in the early hours of the morning, the former Farming Minister had only managed to gain 13,398 votes compared to Labour's Michelle Welsh, who won 18,841 seats.

With a family farming background, Sir Mark had held the seat since 2010 - winning four consecutive elections in the process.

READ NOW: EXCLUSIVE: Prime Minister Rishi Sunak - "We're sticking to our plan to back Britain's farmers"

However, he gained 18,651 fewer votes that what he had gained during the 2019 election

The former Royal Agricultural Society of England trustee had only gained 2,078 votes more than the Reform UK candidate. 

He said: "I would first of all like to thank all of you who voted for me, and those who have supported me for the 14 years as your MP. Having the chance to represent the place I call home was very special l, and something I will remember forever.

"Congratulations to Michelle, it is a privilege and a honour representing this community and I wish her the best of luck."

Speaking after her victory against the former National Federation of Young Farmers' Clubs chair, Ms Welsh said: "I am so humbled, honoured and privileged to be elected as your Labour MP for Sherwood Forest.

"Together, we campaigned for change and overturned a massive majority of over 16,000.

"Thank you so much to each and every single person who put their faith in me.

"I will honour the trust you have given me and I will work tirelessly to earn that trust from all of you."

The Sherwood Forest results:

Michelle Welsh (Lab) - 18,841

Sir Mark Spencer (Con) – 13,398

Helen O'Hare (Reform) – 11,320

Sheila Greatrex-White (Green) – 2,216

David Dobbie (Lib Dem) – 1,838

Lee Waters (Ind) – 864

READ NOW: From the Prime Minister to the Farming Minister: Rural seats to watch in the General Election

2018, JCB JS130 EXCAVATOR

2018, JCB JS130 EXCAVATOR

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

New Kuhn GF6502 Tedder

New Kuhn GF6502 Tedder

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

Used Vicon / Kubota TE6576

Used Vicon / Kubota TE6576

VIEW ADVERT
£POA

More on Politics

Dame Therese Coffey nominated for political peerage

Dame Therese Coffey nominated for political peerage

Ms Coffey once blamed the Government's lack of preparedness for Storm Babet in the East of England due to rain coming from the 'wrong direction'

clock 20 December 2024 • 1 min read
Not too late to change on bovine TB policy, says Ulster Farmers' Union

Not too late to change on bovine TB policy, says Ulster Farmers' Union

UFU said it has been told by Northern Ireland's Chief Veterinary Officer that the current bTB strategy review was still in ‘draft form' and had not yet undergone scrutiny by policy developers

Rachael Brown
clock 20 December 2024 • 2 min read
Too many farmers dependent on Government Schemes, says Farming Minister

Too many farmers dependent on Government Schemes, says Farming Minister

Speaking at a webinar hosted by the Tenant Farmers Association (TFA), Farming Minister Daniel Zeichner said a key theme from the debate around Agricultural Property Relief (APR) reform was the ‘low level of returns' among farm businesses

Rachael Brown
clock 20 December 2024 • 3 min read