Greens elect second ever MP after Carla Denyer wins in Bristol Central

Greens co-leader Carla Denyer has become her party’s second ever MP after beating senior Labour figure Thangam Debbonaire in Bristol.

The former Bristol City councillor polled 24,539 votes to beat her Labour opponent by 10,407 votes.

Ms Debbonaire, who was the shadow culture secretary, was tipped for a place in Sir Keir Starmer’s cabinet.

The Conservatives finished in a distant third polling 1,998 and fourth was Reform was 1,338. The turnout was 69%.

Ms Denyer, a former engineer, said “Bristol had made history” by electing her to Parliament as a Green Party MP.

She added: “First and most importantly I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who voted for Green.

“I am incredibly grateful for everyone who put their trust in me. To everyone who gave their vote to someone else this time, I am here for you and ready to listen to you and work hard for you too.”

She also praised her predecessor for her “nine years as a brilliant, hardworking constituency MP”.

The new MP added: “I will do my very best to continue to help the people of Bristol Central as well as you have done.

“This incredible city has long had my heart and the warmth and positivity I have felt during this campaign has been truly humbling.

“I feel so privileged to have this opportunity to serve you and ensure that the real hope that inspired so many people to vote Green is represented in Parliament.”

Ms Debbonaire had represented the former Bristol West seat until this year’s boundary changes since 2015.

In her speech, she congratulated her successor and said representing the city was an “incredible honour and I know you will work incredibly hard for it”.

“The people who have put their trust in you will come to see what a great job you are about to do,” she said.

“Across the country people have voted for a Labour government and I couldn’t be prouder of my part in seeing that happen.

“Fourteen long years of chaos and division have finally to an end and with a Labour government you are going to get investment in renewable energy, bring down hospital waiting times and we are going to put more teachers back into our schools and I couldn’t be prouder of the fact that creativity will be put back into the heart of every child’s education.”

The Green Party has candidates standing in 574 constituencies across England and Wales – the most it has stood in a general election campaign – but is focusing on four seats it believes the party can win.

In addition to Bristol Central, and Brighton Pavilion where Sian Berry hopes to replace her party colleague Caroline Lucas, co-leader Adrian Ramsay is contesting Waveney Valley, and Ellie Chowns is standing in North Herefordshire.