Lichfield’s new MP says it is “an absolute privilege” to be elected after Labour took the seat from the Conservatives.
Dave Robertson won with 17,232 votes ahead of long-serving Tory MP Sir Michael Fabricant with 16,422.
It means Lichfield will have a Labour MP for the first time since the current constituency was formed in 1997.
The newly-elected Member of Parliament said he was looking forward to representing local people in Westminster.
“I refuse to believe there are any of the 650 MPs who won’t see this as an absolute privilege – but for me Lichfield, Burntwood and our villages hold a really special place in my heart.
“It’s where I come from, it’s a part of the world I’ve called home for my entire life and I am so excited to be able to get out there and start delivering for the people who call this wonderful part of Staffordshire their home.”
Dave Robertson
The new Labour MP said the party’s message had been welcomed by local voters – and he also hailed the work of those who had helped with his campaign.
“When we look at what makes this Labour party electable, the work Keir Starmer has done transforming the Labour party and putting us back in the place where we can be of service to the British people has really resonated.
“From speaking to people on the doorstep we know they were really eager to hear what we had to say and know how we would deliver the change they want to see.
“We’ve been really fortunate to be supported by literally hundreds of volunteers who have been really enthused and energised by what we are offering as a party – no gimmicks and not over-promising, but being very, very focused on the changes we want to make immediately and in the long term.
“That’s very much Keir Starmer’s mission-led government and the initial six steps that we want to take to change the country.
“I’m really excited to get going. I am champing at the bit, I want to go down there and start getting on to those because this country deserves change and I hope I can be part of delivering that.”
Dave Robertson
But despite his victory, the Labour MP will have to put the celebrations on ice for now. He said:
“I am on duty with Lichfield Foodbank at Morrisons from 1.30pm to 3pm tomorrow, splease come down, get a tin and pop it in as they do amazing work supporting the most vulnerable in our community.”
Dave Robertson
There was more local success for Labour as Sarah Edwards held on to the Tamworth seat – which includes areas such as Whittington, Stonnall, Fazeley and Shenstone.
She topped the poll with 15,338 votes, ahead of Conservative Eddie Hughes who received 13,956 votes.
The Labour MP said:
“I love Tamworth and it’s the privilege of my life to be re-elected as your Member of Parliament.
“Thank you for putting your trust in me. I will do everything I can to deliver change on the issues that matter most to my constituents.”
Sarah Edwards
Well done Dave!
G’wan!!!
The people have spoken. We need change. We need to be heard. We need to put our city back on the map.
Never voted Labour in my life but cannot have useless Fabricant as MP any longer.
Get it sorted Dave ! Fix the potholes
Congratulations Mr Robertson, I am by no means a Labour voter, however democracy is the mainstay of our country.
So once again congratulations we will all be watching and hoping for a better future for all.
What a terrible day for Lichfield and the country on the whole. Lichfield is no longer a middle class rural city but is now a working class Birmingham off shoot, how far this place has fallen.
I wonder how long it will take for those congratulating our new ‘MP’ to be shocked and dismayed to find the local private school is closed, their council tax is higher and they are generally poorer.
Well at least some of us had to common sense to not vote this party into power.
Welcome reform our next opposition party.
I’ve worked in polling stations for a couple of decades now, and in the last couple of general elections Dave was the only candidate I saw to come around to the stations to personally thank the Polling Staff. Sums it up really. Congratulations Dave.
Dave, we’ve heard all the rhetoric so now it’s time to deliver – we’ll be watching.
@Gurt My god, you absolute snob. Not pleased that the riff-raff will now run the country? Your precious middle-class bubble, now having to associate with those awful working-class types? Whatever will we do without private schools, eh? I actually felt slightly ill reading your comment, you revolting and rather pathetic-sounding individual. Go away, and take your entitled stink with you.
@gurt I am not sure whether you just trying to be provocative or actually believe what you are writing? Anyway whatever…. I’ll let you daydream about your rural middle class idyll where the rough Brummie working class know their place and duff their caps as they pass you in the street.
Well Gurt, what is wrong with people who work for a living? Should the private school in Lichfield close I doubt I would notice as I could never afford the fees! I have lived in Lichfield for 50 years and would point out that all the new houses built at Streethay, back of Shortbutts, Birmingham road and now Curborough have all been built on the tories watch! I would congratulate our new MP and suggest that it will be nice to see someone who was raised and educated in this beautiful city, who will have our interests instead of his own, represent us in parliament.
Wow Gurt… You clearly don’t understand the history of Lichfield. It hasn’t always been Blue. Sounds like you are all in favour of gentrification and you’d like nothing better than to drive out people that have lived here all their lives.
Lichfield does not begin at the Waitrose estate you know? There is more to it than that. Maybe you should move if you don’t actually like living near, you know, normal people with normal problems? Sounds like you should follow Sir Michael..
Lichfield is in just the right place leadership wise. They now have an MP who truly knows the area and a council in no overall control. So that means decisions that are made for the best of all in the area, not just the Tory faithful. It also means neither can drive through policy based on any ideologies. Compromises need to be made and working together is the best way forward for all.
Congratulations, this city has been held back from the modern world with a conservative MP that was an embarrassment for us all for to long
And Gurt… This Tory clown show has already made me poorer. Truss crashed the economy, which meant losing thousands in my investment savings and pension. And it was also the Tory government that allowed Brexit. Same thing happened with that. You sound like a Tory member, so maybe I shouldn’t blame the government, but actually the people like yourself that put them in charge in the first place?
The markets however back Labour to bring stability and investment and already the FTSE has seen a surge. The Tories were just too crazy, unstable and nobody with any sense would invest in UK PLC whilst they were in charge.
Congratulations to Dave Robertson. I hope he and the new Labour government make us proud. @Gurt I doubt there will be many who are bothered much by the fate of the local private school compared to the many who have been made poorer by the Tories. “Things can only get better!”
Fantastic news, well done Dave!
Please dont disappoint we have placed our trust in you. Congratulations!
@Gurt – judging by the votes on your comments, seems like you are in the minority and maybe what Lichfield actually needs is less people with such small minded, stuck up attitudes, living in it. It doesn’t need people like yourself, stoking division. Everyone needs to get along. Looking down on people and acting smug, when you are partly responsible for the mess the country is in, does not help anyone.
This is democracy in action. We have had to accept that since 1997. Stopping spitting your dummy out because you didn’t get what you want. That’s life… Plenty of people have suffered thanks to the choices you have made over the last few years, with leaders etc.. now if you honestly think you’ll be worse off, which I don’t believe you will I might add.. but if you in particular end up worse off, then maybe that is Karma.
@Gurt, what do you expect when we’ve built thousands of houses for Labour voting Brummies to move into, as well as hundreds of new social houses. The demographics of Lichfield are changing and it’s only the Conservatives to blame when these new people vote Labour. Fabricant lost by 800 votes, so hardly anything in it. All those little cheap 2 bed houses/social housing has swung it Labour’s way. They can’t say they weren’t warned.
I really can’t cope with the working class living in Lichfield.
It’s making me feel quite faint.
Congratulations, Dave! I’m sure you will be a great MP for Lichfield. You’re already a vast improvement on the last one. It’s good to have the Tories gone at last, but the dark clouds are already looming and Labour won their landslide with only just over a third of the vote, barely an improvement on Corbyn’s supposedly disastrous 2019 performance (congratulations, Jeremy, by the way). Far from wooing back former Labour voters who defected to the Tories over Brexit, those misguided souls have been lost again to Farage’s fantasy party, actually a corporate enterprise in which he has a controlling interest. They need to have their eyes opened to the truth about Nigel’s megalomaniacal vanity projects (UKIP, Brexit Party, Reform). Rather than trying to convince them that Brexit is safe in Labour’s hands, Labour needs to expose the false nationalist narrative and win them back to decent Labour values. Brexit is and always was a confidence trick, which the Tories played and ultimately lost.
@Carl Sholl…A few points on your analysis. Firstly I am pleased with the election outcome but there are caveats. The success for Labour was because so many were disenchanted with the Tories that they voted for any other party rather than Labour. Labour’s overall vote was 35%, only 1% higher than their 2019 result. This has created spectacular results but is not a total endorsement. Perhaps a good performance might change this.
The Tories won the election on the promise of a referendum in 2016. They were confident that the electorate would support the 1976 entry referendum which was won on false premices.
The electorate voted to leave and so did Cameron (shamefully) immediately on the result.
Such referendums have become poisoned chalices. It is unlikely any party will willingly take that path again.
Lastly…Like me, I hope you are concerned about the move to the far right in European politics. It boads evil for all true democracies and even the European Community.
He seems like a nice man. I’ll be in touch with him to ask him to stop opening coffee shops like fabricant did
@Gurt, if your comments truly reflect the ‘middle class rural city’ that you perceive Lichfield to be, then what a sorry advert for it you are.
I have NEVER commented on here about another individual contributors comments but so nauseating were yours that I’ve broken my own rule.
Aaaagh, I’m annoyed now.
Bringing class into it shows no class.
I just hope he does a better job than his predecessor. After all, it won’t be that hard to accomplish 🙏
Many congratulations on your well deserved and historic win against Fabricant!!! It has truly brought joy to our household!!! Trust you and your Party can now turn the page! 👍
Congratulations to Dave Robertson from what people have post on LL he is hardworking and down to earth and I am sure he will represent us well. Philip mentioned referendum , yes please I would like to see two referendums in the future the BBC and net zero come on let the people decide.
@Gurt… Is that you, Mr. Fabricant?
Denise the answer to your fainting, 1. Smell salts. 2. Removal truck.
That comment by Gurt smacks of the stuck up outdated puerile entitlement we do not need, probably been watching the League of Gentlemen and taking it literally. Lichfield Shops for Lichfield People!
I for one voted out Fabricant due to his lack of engagement to the local people in recent times, the immature attitude of his Social Media posts, he has also not been proactive enough in providing better funding for the City. The increase of food banks in the area is detriment to the reality of what is going on.
I have to say well done Dave. He was the chairman of the local labour party who lost EVERY seat Labour fought for on the day of the county council results in 2021 yet he didn’t let that bother him one bit. He believed things could change. He became the leader of Lichfield City Council and has shown tremendous understanding of local issues as a district councillor. That shows character and his victory is a sign of pure determination by a hard working local man. Whatever your politics, that is impressive and I’m sure he’ll truly work for all of the constituency.
As for Gurt’s comment what a load of utter rubbish. Lichfield District is a special place to live and work in with a wonderful dedicated community. Show some class in future please.
Gurt and Simon, you are both pathetic. Have you actually read what you have both written? You shamefully denigrate people who work. You arrogantly assume that all people whom you define as middle class vote conservative. The ‘cheap 2 bed houses’ were built by businesses who by your implication were exploiting poorer families. Your comments about working class Brummies ruining nice middle class Lichfield borders on hate speech. You should be ashamed of your nasty little selves. You don’t speak for most people who live in this constituency, nor for most people who voted honestly for the Conservative Party.