Conservative former Justice Secretary Robert Buckland loses seat, in Labour's first gain from Tories

5 July 2024, 00:19 | Updated: 5 July 2024, 01:54

Robert Buckland
Robert Buckland. Picture: .

By Kit Heren

Sir Robert Buckland, the Conservative's former Justice Secretary, has lost his seat, in Labour's first gain from the Tories in the General Election.

Listen to this article

Loading audio...

Sir Robert, who previously held Swindon South with a majority of over 6,000, lost to Labour's Heidi Alexander.

Labour won 21,676 votes, with the Conservatives second on 12,070. Reform UK were third on 6,194. This marks the first Labour gain from the Tories this evening.

Sir Robert has held the seat since 2010, before which it was a Labour constituency for several years.

He hit out at his Conservative colleagues in the wake of his loss, saying: "I've watched colleagues in the Conservative Party strike poses, write inflammatory op-eds, and say stupid things they know they have no evidence for, instead of concentrating on doing the job".

Read more: Follow live as Britain decides on the election night blog

Read more: General Election exit poll predicts Labour landslide with majority of 170 seats

Sir Robert was Justice Secretary from 2019-2021, and Secretary of State for Wales for several months in 2022. Sir Robert was Solicitor General between 2014 and 2019 and prisons minister in 2019.

Ms Alexander, the new MP, previously held Lewisham East in London between 2010 and 2018, when she quit to become deputy London mayor for transport under Sadiq Khan.

She said after the result was announced that she was on a "mission to restore pride and opportunity to my home town".

Ms Alexander added: "Together, we're going to put Swindon back on the map for all the right reasons."

Natasha on exit poll

Labour are expected to make many gains overnight, with a massive landslide forecast in the exit poll.

Several Cabinet ministers are forecast to lost their seats, including Chancellor Jeremy Hunt and Defence Secretary Grant Shapps.

The exit poll shows a Labour landslide with 410 seats, with the party having a majority of 170 seats.

Meanwhile, the Conservatives are set for 131 seats - which would be the lowest number of Tory MPs on record.

Pollster analyses the Exit Poll

The exit poll also forecasts the Liberal Democrats on 61 seats, Reform UK on 13 and the Green Party on two.

In Scotland, the SNP are expected to secure 10 seats with Plaid Cymru in Wales on four.

Listen to Britain Decides on Global Player, LBC’s official app

More Latest News

See more More Latest News

Proud Boys claim they will go to voting places as Trump repeats election fraud lies.

Proud Boys making plans to mobilise as Trump repeats election fraud lies

File photo of a real NHS dentist

Desperate Brits fall for scam 'fake NHS dentists' amid years-long waits for appointments

The Kremlin is suspected of plotting the attack

'Parcel bombs' that blew up in warehouse were 'rehearsal' for Russian explosion attack on flight to US

Keir Starmer is not set to ban smoking in pub gardens, contrary to earlier reports

Cigarettes will not be banned in pub gardens under new Labour plan create 'smoke-free generation'

Former President Donald Trump speaks at a campaign rally in Reading, Pennsylvania

Trump threatens Mexico with 100% tariffs unless it cracks down on border crossings

Bridget Phillipson told Tonight with Andrew Marr that the fee hike was necessary to secure the future of universities.

‘Universities must reform’ says education secretary after first hike in tuition fees in 8 years

Two more cases of a new strain of mpox have been detected in the UK, officials say

Two more cases of new mpox strain detected in UK

Anya Taylor-Joy and her musician husband were the victims of a terrifying robbery

Anya Taylor-Joy and musician husband victims of burglary at London mansion

Exclusive
Nigel Farage speaking to LBC's Nick Ferrari about new Tory leader Kemi Badenoch

'The Remainers are back in town': Nigel Farage says Kemi Badenoch will bring 'no change whatsoever' to Tories

Amy Dowden

Strictly Come Dancing star Amy Dowden will not return to show this year following 'medical emergency'

Scott Paterson murdered his landlady Annette Smith

Tenant murdered and dismembered elderly landlady before posing as her by sending Christmas cards to family

Robert Jenrick, Priti Patel and Mel Stride will all serve in Kemi Badenoch's Shadow Cabinet

Kemi Badenoch names former leadership rivals Robert Jenrick and Priti Patel to Tory Shadow Cabinet team

Bridget Phillipson has confirmed the tuition fee rise

University tuition fees to rise for first time in eight years, as Tories accuse Labour of 'declaring war on students'

Sara Sharif had suffered dozens of injuries in the weeks leading up to her death, a court has heard

Video of Sara Sharif smiling and dancing 'days before murder' shown to court

Transport for London (TfL) has warned passengers that no Tube services are expected on Thursday 7 November

November Tube strikes to bring London to a halt this week despite RMT calling off action

Stuart Gogg during the Six Nations rugby match between France and Scotland in Saint-Denis, 26 February 2023

Former Scotland rugby captain pleads guilty to domestic abuse over five-year period against former partner