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Jacob Rees-Mogg reacts after losing a seat to the Labor MP he ousted in 2010

Jacob Rees-Mogg lost his seat in a dramatic defeat to the Labor MP, which he won 14 years ago.

Labour’s Dan Norris defeated Sir Jacob by 20,739 votes to 15,420. UK Reform, whose voters Sir Jacob had urged to support him because he would get “90 per cent of what they want”, got 7,424 votes – enough to have made the difference if he had supported the Tories .




In his concession speech, Sir Jacob congratulated Mr Norris and Labor leader Keir Starmer and thanked his team and constituency staff. He concluded by quoting Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the inventor of Caracatus Potts: “From the ashes of disaster grow the roses of success.” He then had to face a media mob that kicked him out of the building. The result came just as Labor reached 326 seats and a majority

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In his acceptance speech, Mr Norris thanked supporters, adding: “I also want to thank Jacob Rees-Mogg. He has done a very good job of supporting his constituency – so far, obviously. I know exactly how that feels because Mr Rees-Mogg paid me that compliment 14 years ago and I was able to return it.”

Conservative candidate Jacob Rees Mogg defeated Labor MP Dan Norris in 2010

As well as now being the MP for North East Somerset, Mr Norris is also the mayor of the West of England metro, a major role in which his term lasts another year. Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, he added: “It’s my intention to continue, but what I was never going to do was talk about not being regional mayor until the electorate had a chance to decide what I will as MP because I wouldn’t be so arrogant or disrespectful to assume that.


“They have made their verdict known now. They know that I am the regional mayor. Now I have to get some sleep and then reflect on what has happened and work out how I can best serve the people of North East Somerset and Hanham and the West of England.”

In north-east Somerset and Hanham, and in many areas across the country, the Tory-to-Reform switch was a factor in Labour’s win. Mr Norris said: “I think any politician who leaves – even if there is a big Labor landslide – thinking they’ve been given a big pat on the back by the politicians would be very foolish.

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