Labour’s Claire Ward elected first mayor of East Midlands

Claire Ward from the Labour party has won the first ever mayoral election for the East Midlands region with a significant lead over her Conservative opponent, Ben Bradley, of over 50,000 votes.

Ward, who previously worked as a Member of Parliament for Watford under the Labour party, expressed her gratitude for being chosen for the position. She conveyed that voters had not only supported her but also the notion of a transformed Labour party that is now poised to take charge and lead with firm conviction.

In her triumphant address to the electorate, she acknowledged that they had taken the initiative to wrest control from the bureaucrats in London and place it within their own grasp.

Ward won the election with a total of 181,040 votes, while Bradley received 129,332 votes. The Green party secured third place after receiving 50,666 votes, which barely surpassed the votes received by Reform UK.

According to a Labour source, the area is considered a significant location in the general election battle, and the party's successful result there is a strong indicator that they might be headed towards national triumph.

The locality includes several influential regions, along with several past areas recognized as "red walls," including Bolsover and Bassetlaw.

Bradley expressed that the competition was a difficult one and he felt profoundly upset with the outcome.

He stated that they have exceeded the anticipated national performance. Personally, he expressed great disappointment at the outcome since he spent two and a half years striving to obtain the necessary abilities, help, and funding for their region.

He had believed that his influential ties to the community and his reputation - being the representative for Mansfield and a prominent figure in Nottinghamshire's county council governance - would assist him in defying the pattern of reduced backing for the Conservative Party.

Before, he stated that in case he won the election, he would carry on with his duty as an MP until the forthcoming general election as a measure to avoid a by-election taking place in such proximity to a national vote.

Referring to the criticisms he received about holding various political positions, he acknowledged that it was a very difficult time for him. He stated that they were attempting to handle many responsibilities, as others had frequently noted.

The Labour party announced their victory several hours prior to the official release of the results on Friday afternoon. The polls had already forecasted that the party was leading.

While the counting of votes was underway, Bradley appeared sad outdoors. When a journalist inquired about his emotional state, he responded with a disinterested "Meh."

Only 27.6% of eligible voters participated in the election, prompting some candidates to express dissatisfaction about the inadequate publicity about the new position. According to some reports, certain voters received the information booklets regarding the role after the Thursday vote.

It was the initial instance where voters headed to the polls to cast their vote for a mayor in the area that covers Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire, but not Leicestershire.

In his blog, Ward expressed that the fresh position would result in the East Midlands area being prioritized. This region has historically been allocated the smallest amount of public funds per individual. Ward is confident that the East Midlands will finally receive equal treatment and opportunities to other parts of the country.

Ward held the position of parliament member for the area of Watford for a duration of thirteen years, from 1997 till 2010. During his tenure, he played a vital role in both Blair and Brown governments as a whip initially and later as a justice minister.