'Boris get out': More than 1,000 voters spoil election ballot papers
‘Boris, do a Brexit – get out’: More than a THOUSAND voters spoil their ballot papers – including with anti-PM messages – as Tories hold Southend West in by-election sparked by the brutal murder of David Amess
- Voters scrawled anti-Boris Johnson slogans on ballot papers in Southend West
- Enough people spoilt their ballot papers last night to come a theoretical second
- One ballot said ‘Boris, do a Brexit – get out’, another scrawled ‘Get Boris out’
Voters scrawled anti-Boris Johnson slogans on ballot papers as the Tories comfortably held Southend West in a by-election triggered by the murder of its former MP.
Enough people spoilt their ballot papers last night to come a theoretical second in the vote behind the winner, Tory barrister Anna Firth.
Only 24 per cent of the electorate turned out after the major rival parties including Labour and the Liberal Democrats decided not to contest the poll.
Ms Firth won with 12,792 votes, 86 per cent of the total, with the Psychedelic Movement in second place on 512, ahead of Ukip on 400. In contrast there were 1,084 spoilt papers – meaning they had been defaced so as not to be counted.
The PA Media news agency witnessed a number of spoilt ballots containing messages rallying against Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who is embroiled in a partygate controversy around potential lockdown breaches in Downing Street.
One ballot seen at the Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre where the count is taking place said ‘Boris, do a Brexit – get out’, while another voter scrawled ‘Get Boris out’.
One ballot seen at the Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre where the count is taking place said ‘Boris, do a Brexit – get out’
Tory barrister Anna Firth (pictured after her victory) has won the Southend West by-election held to select a successor to Sir David Amess, who was murdered last year
Sir David, who secured an increased majority of 14,459 in the 2019 general election, had served Southend West since 1997, and Basildon before that since 1983
Southend West has been held by the Conservatives since its creation in 1950.
The newly-elected MP declared in her victory speech she will ‘work tirelessly to build on everything’ her predecessor achieved.
She said after her victory: ‘It is the honour of my life to represent the people of Southend West and the place where I was born.’
The lawyer praised the other parties for not standing and recognised it was a ‘sad and painful day’ for Sir David’s family.
Sir David, who secured an increased majority of 14,459 in the 2019 general election, had served Southend West since 1997, and Basildon before that since 1983.
He was killed at Belfairs Methodist Church in Leigh-on-Sea, Essex on October 15 during a constituency surgery.
The newly-elected MP declared in her victory speech she will ‘work tirelessly to build on everything’ her predecessor achieved
PA news agency witnessed a number of spoilt ballots containing messages rallying against Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Pictured: the first ballot boxes arrive at the count
Ali Harbi Ali is accused of murdering Sir David. The 25-year-old is also charged with preparing acts of terrorism between May 1 2019 and September 28 last year.
Ali denied the charges at a hearing at the Old Bailey in December and faces a trial later this year.
Ballot papers are verified at Southend Leisure & Tennis Centre for the Southend West by-election
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