General Election: Labour and Lib Dems sweep away Tories in Sussex

Despite Labour overthrowing the Conservatives in several seats and winning nationally it was arguably the Liberal Democrats’ night in the county after going from zero seats to five.

The yellow juggernaut took Lewes, Eastbourne, Chichester, Horsham and Mid Sussex from the Tories, who were left with five seats.

The Conservatives, who suffered heavy losses across the country, went into the election with 14 seats.

In the first Sussex result to be called, Liberal Democrat Josh Babarinde OBE defeated former Eastbourne MP Caroline Ansell with his 23,742 votes compared with her 11,538.

Josh Babarinde with Lib Dem lead Ed Davey enjoying an ice cream in Eastbourne (Image: PA)

The former Hampden Park councillor had bungee jumped into the last week of campaigning with the party’s leader Sir Ed Davey.

Jess Brown-Fuller sent former Conservative Education Secretary Gillian Keegan packing with a convincing win in Chichester, which had been held by the Tories continuously since 1924.

Ms Keegan first won the seat in 2017 with 60 per cent of the vote.

But the tables were turned this election with Ms Brown-Fuller winning 25,540 votes compared with Ms Keegan's 13,368.

The party also had an extraordinary win in Horsham where former Conservative MP Jeremy Quin was booted out of the seat by John Milne.

Read more: LIVE: General Election results come in from across Sussex

The constituency had been represented by the Conservatives since 1880.

It was a close-fought battle with Mr Milne receiving 21,632 votes and Mr Quin receiving 19,115.

In Lewes, Newhaven councillor James MacCleary took the seat from Conservative Maria Caulfield, who had been MP since 2015, with a 12,000 vote majority.

Mid Sussex was won by Lib Dem Alison Bennett who got 21,136 votes, beating Conservative Kristy Adams, who got 14, 474.

The seat was formerly represented by Conservative Mims Davies, however she stood and won in the new constituency of East Grinstead and Uckfield in this election.

Labour gained four seats from the Tories.

The party made history with residents in Worthing electing their first Labour MPs.

Tom Rutland and Beccy Cooper (Image: The Argus)

Tom Rutland won East Worthing and Shoreham with 22,126 votes.

The seat had been held since 1997 by Conservative Tim Loughton, who earlier this year announced he would be standing down.

Mr Rutland, 32, who lives in Lancing, beat competition from Conservative candidate Leila Williams, who achieved 12,601 votes.

He said it was the “honour” of his life to be the seat’s first Labour MP.

“I am so grateful to the voters who have put their trust in a changed Labour Party," he said.

“I’ll do all I can to deliver the change you have voted for.”

Mr Rutland thanked his parents, sister and grandmother for all their “love and batch cooking”.

He also thanked his partner Jack.

“My boyfriend, words I’m so lucky to be able to say that I never thought I’d have the courage to when I was growing up. I love you," he said.

It was third time lucky for Beccy Cooper, leader of Worthing Borough Council, who unseated Conservative Sir Peter Bottomley in Worthing West.

Sir Peter had been the MP since the constituency's creation in 1997.

Ms Cooper took the win with 20,519 votes. Sir Peter received 16,570.

She thanked residents for the “unbelievable” result.

“It is an enormous privilege which I fully intend to honour and repay by hard work and dedication in the service of our wonderful community,” she said.

In Crawley, former Crawley Borough Council leader Peter Lamb beat Tory opponent Zack Ali with 17,453 votes, compared with Mr Ali’s 12,218.

Helena Dollimore took Hastings and Rye from former Conservative MP Sally-Ann Hart with a 9,000 majority.

Labour’s Peter Kyle held Hove and Portslade for another term, retaining his huge majority and achieving 27,209 votes compared with Green Party runner up Sophie Broadbent’s 7,418.

“I would like to thank everybody who worked on this campaign to make it a safe and fair election,” he said following his re-election.

Mr Kyle spoke about his father’s recent death and said he knew he would be proud of him.

Peter Kyle has been re-elected (Image: The Argus/Andrew Gardner)

“A short time before this election my dad passed away,” he said.

“He knew that he was going to miss this moment but I know how proud this would have made him. My gratitude for all he did for me and my family simply couldn’t be greater.

“Nine years ago residents across Hove and Portslade chose change by electing a Labour MP. Since that time it has been the privilege of my life to give our communities a voice in Parliament.

“It is now clear that our country has chosen change as well. That change will be led by a Labour government.”

Despite a rocky start to his campaign Chris Ward was elected as Brighton Kemptown and Peacehaven’s MP.

Mr Ward was selected to represent Labour in the seat on May 31 after Lloyd Russell-Moyle, who had represented the constituency since 2017, was suspended from the party two days prior.

He won 17,893 votes and had a majority of almost 10,000.

“The last time I was in this sports hall was when I was playing cricket when I was a kid next door or playing hockey and football out on the astroturf there,” he said.

Chris Ward was elected with a 10,000-vote majority (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

“If you said to me then that one day I’d be standing as a MP for the city I love and the party I love I would have never believed you.

“It is a huge honour and a huge responsibility to have the opportunity to service this constituency.

“It is a tremendous moment and one that I will do my utmost to deliver for everyone in the constituency whether you voted for me or not.

“I am determined to do that.

“I know I stand in a long line of Labour MPs who have represented this constituency and who have a tremendous record for representing constituency issues and demands.

“What has happened tonight here is part of a bigger national story and we now have officially the first Labour government in 14 years.”

It was a close battle for second place between Conservative candidate Khobi Vallis, who got 8,230 votes, and former city councillor and Green candidate Elaine Hills, who got 7,997 votes.

Sian was up against Labour's Tom Gray (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

In Brighton Pavilion, Sian Berry defended the Green Party’s flagship seat in Parliament, won by Caroline Lucas in 2010.

Ms Berry beat Labour’s Tom Gray by a whopping 14,000 votes.

“Thank you from the bottom of my heart to everyone in Brighton who has put their trust in me and the Green Party,” she said.

“This is a very special city, and together we’ve made history again.

“I promise to work hard as your new Green MP and make sure your voices are heard in Parliament. By voting for me, you have demanded action on the NHS, the water companies, housing and the climate emergency and I will be there to make sure the new government delivers on all these priorities.”

Caroline Lucas celebrated Sian's win (Image: Andrew Gardner / The Argus)

The Tories managed to keep hold of five seats.

Alison Griffiths defended Bognor Regis and Littlehampton for her party, which was formerly held by Tory MP Nick Gibb.

Andrew Griffiths also defended his seat of Arundel and the South Downs for a second term.

Nus Ghani was re-elected in Sussex Weald and Kieran Mullen defended Bexhill and Battle which was held by former Tory MP Huw Merriman.