Wolverhampton South East election results: Labour's Pat McFadden wins as Reform takes second

The veteran MP's vote tally of 16,800 votes was almost more than his four opponents votes put together but turnout was a paltry 43.6 per cent. Reform UK's Carl Hardwick beat Conservative Victoria Wilson to second place, polling 7,612 votes to her 5,654.

The Green Party's Paul Darke got 1,643, The Workers Party Athar Warraich got 915 and Liberal Democrat Bart Ricketts came last with 758 votes.

Mr McFadden told the Express & Star this victory was sweeter than his others due to successfully steering Labour to a historic landslide.

He said: "This was a very different campaign compared to others, normally during a general election I would be in the constituency canvassing every day but that was not possible as I had to spend time at Labour national headquarters working on the national campaign but I was here whenever I could because it is important to meet voters.

"It is an honour to be elected the MP for Wolverhampton South East, it is humbling thing to do to stand in an election and I know the responsibilities I have to the wonderful people of this constituency."

However, with more than 55 per cent of the constituency's electorate not bothering to vote in such a pivotal election, Mr McFadden conceded many are jaded by politics.

He said: "The turnout is a concern, people do feel beaten down, they have been promised a lot and have not seen it delivered. We tried to have a responsible manifesto and took some stick for that, with people saying there is this or that problem. This is why I would rather under-promise and deliver. I don't think we should promise the earth."

Speaking to those gathered at the count in Aldersley Stadium, Mr McFadden, 59, thanked his team who have helped him win every election since 2005. He also singled out his party leader for transforming Labour's electoral fortunes after 14 years in the political wilderness.

He said: "Tonight the country has voted for change. It is one thing for voters to become disillusioned with a government. But it is an entirely different thing for voters to put their trust in an opposition party. That only happens when that opposition party has earnt that trust.

"So I want to thank my party leader Kier Starmer for the changes he has made to our party. We know the responsibility we have been given, to make all parts of our country to feel part of the national story, to rebuild our public services, to put country before party in the way we are governed and to reward the hard work of the British people. Now the change must begin."

Mr McFadden also revelled in his delight at no longer being Wolverhampton's only Labour MP, after Wolverhampton North East and Wolverhampton West turned red.

Reform UK runner-up Carl Hardwick was "delighted" with his share of the vote and his party's national breakthrough by sending MPs to Westminster.

The full results are:

Paul Darke - Green Party: 1,643

Carl Hardwick - Reform UK: 7,612

Pat McFadden - Labour: 16,800

Bart Ricketts - Liberal Democrats: 758

Athar Warraich - Workers Party of Britain: 915

Victoria Wilson - Conservative: 5,654