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Key fire figures keep seats despite hung parliament

09 June 2017

A NUMBER of key figures that have links to the fire sector have kept their seats despite the general election ending in the surprise result of a hung parliament.

The results have rocked the Conservatives who have lost their overall majority after being widely tipped to increase it. The party fell seven seats short of a majority but plan to remain in government by forming an alliance with DUP. They remain the largest single party with 318 seats while Labour achieved 262 seats, SNP 35 seats and Liberal Democrats won 12.

Current fire minister Brandon Lewis safely retained his seat at Great Yarmouth with a Conservative majority of 7,973 votes. Home secretary Amber Rudd had a much greater scare by scarcely holding on to her seat with a majority of just 346 votes after two recounts. Another former fire minister, Penny Mordaunt, was also returned to Parliament with a Conservative majority of 9,965.

Former Chair of the London Fire and Emergency Planning Authority James Cleverly was also returned as the Conservative MP for Braintree with a majority of 18,422. Newly appointed shadow home secretary Lyn Brown easily retained her seat in West Ham by winning a majority of 36,754. Brown, who is a former shadow fire minister, was only promoted to the shadow cabinet the day before the election after Diane Abbott stepped aside for health reasons. 

Prime minister Theresa May looked in somber mood after retaining her Maidenhead seat she told the media she intends to still form a stable government. She said: “The country needs a period of stability and, whatever the results are, the Conservative party will fulfil our duty of ensuring that stability so we can all go forward together.”

Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn has called on Ms May to resign following the result, he said: “I would have thought that's enough to go, actually, and make way for a government that will be truly representative of all of the people of this country.”

Theresa May is now expected to meet with the Queen this afternoon to ask permission to form the next government after coming to an informal understanding with DUP to work with her on a vote by vote basis.

 
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