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Former Ermysted's pupil wins election by just 20 votes in Essex

Friday, 5 July 2024 04:05

Richard Holden (right) with Robbie Moore during a visit to Steeton in November 2023

Tory Party chairman Richard Holden - who went to school in Skipton - has won himself a new parliamentary seat in Basildon and Billericay with a majority of just 20 votes.

Mr Holden was first elected as an MP in the 2019 general election in North West Durham,

Boundary changes mean that seat no longer exists, so he instead stood for election in the previously safe Conservative seat of Basildon and Billericay in Essex - which previously had a majority of around 20,000.

After two re-counts overnight, he won the seat by just 20 votes, so returns to parliament as a Tory MP for a second time.

He polled 12,905 votes, with the Labour candidate just behind on 12,885. Reform UK recevied 11,354 votes in the constituency.

Richard Holden attended Skipton's Ermysted's Grammar School between 1996 and 2001.

He spent several years as a Conservative Party press officer and special adviser before being elected to parliament in December 2019.

He went on to become a Transport Minister under Rishi Sunak and subsequently became Conservative Party Chairman in November 2023.

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