Jim Dobbin retains Heywood and Middleton seat

Photo: Laura Wild

Celebration for Jim Dobbin MP, his wife Pat and the rest of the Labour party team

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Labour candidate Jim Dobbin has been re-elected as MP for Heywood and Middleton after retaining the seat with 18,499 votes.

Mr Dobbin said he was “ecstatic” to remain the constituency’s representative – albeit with a reduced majority.

Speaking to Rochdale Online after the results were announced Mr Dobbin said: “This is my fifth parliamentary election and it is the one that I cherish the most, especially as times are difficult for the government.

“People came and showed their faith to myself, the Labour party, and the government. I appreciate that and I hope they can see the benefits invested in this constituency over the last 13 years because they have been immense.”

The Labour MP vowed to continue voting freely on issues, having become known for objecting to several of his party’s policies.

“I have voted 70 or 80 times against the government in the past 13 years. I will continue to be independent and if I don’t agree with a labour policy I will tell them and vote against it,” he said, shortly after arriving at Middleton Arena late on last night (Thursday 6 May 2010)

“I don’t do it because I want to do it, I do it because I think the government’s got it wrong, on things like student fees, Iraq and foundation hospitals.”

He also expressed delight at the Labour capture of neighbouring constituency Rochdale, with Simon Danczuk taking the seat from Liberal Democrat Paul Rowen by a slim margin.

Prior to the count, Mr Dobbin described himself as “reasonably relaxed” as he paced round the room preparing to see whether voters had granted him another term as their parliamentary representative.

He also commented on the difference between this and previous campaigns:

“This has been an interesting one. All of the support and help comes via the internet and political websites.

“This campaign has been unusual. The TV debates have created a personality issue which is having a bad influence on the way young people vote.”

With the eventual outcome of the general election still in doubt, he pledged his support to the beleaguered Prime Minister: “Brown doesn’t have the X Factor but he has the substance.”

Conservative candidate Mike Holly, who came second with 12,528 votes, said: “We’ve reduced the Labour majority from 11,000 to 6,000. By any measure, that is fantastic. Next time we can actually win this seat with a Tory government.”

Wera Hobhouse, Liberal Democrat candidate was disappointed with her party’s share of the vote nationally, suggesting even before the count had taken place that the buoyant mood in the Liberal Democrat camp had been dampened as the day progressed:

“There is a possibility one always expects more and we were possibly unrealistic in our expectations.”

She came third in Heywood and Middleton with 10,474 votes and vowed to fight for the seat again, Mrs Hobhouse said: “I feel I have had fantastic support. I’m not just going to give up.”

Peter Greenwood, representing the BNP, received 3,239 votes – almost reaching the party’s target of doubling 2005’s total of 1,855. Before the count he was optimistic his party could make progress both locally and nationally: “Ideally we want to get 10% of the vote but realistically we will be happy with 8% of the vote. If we get that then we have got a 100% increase and that would be great.”

Victoria Cecil, for UKIP, who was not present for the count, won 1,215 votes. Chrissy Lee, standing as an independent candidate and also not present on the night, polled 170.