RESULT: Labour retains Hove with huge majority

Labour's Peter Kyle has been re-elected as Hove MP with an 18,757 majority.
Peter Kyle celebrates his victoryPeter Kyle celebrates his victory
Peter Kyle celebrates his victory

Mr Kyle polled more than double the amount of votes as the Conservative challenger Kristy Adams, increasing his majority from just 1,236 in 2015 when he was first elected.

He said: “I’m overwhelmed, I’m shocked. I have only been an MP for two years, I have been accessible, and hard working, open in the way I do my job, I have never tried to pretend I’m someone I’m not.

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“I am always there to debate, listen and engage with people who disagree with me and I have never ducked big issues.

Peter Kyle, HovePeter Kyle, Hove
Peter Kyle, Hove

“I will take those things as I move forward and try to work as hard as I can to honour the incredible trust that people have just shown me.”

It was double celebrations for Labour, as the party’s candidate in Brighton Kemptown took the seat from the Tories.

Kristy Adams was Kyle’s main rival in Hove, with the seat seen as a target for the Tories.

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But the Conservatives realised early on at the count that they had lost.

Hove's Peter Kyle and Brighton Kemptown's Lloyd Russell-Moyle celebrate Labour's election success in the city, with city council leader Warren MorganHove's Peter Kyle and Brighton Kemptown's Lloyd Russell-Moyle celebrate Labour's election success in the city, with city council leader Warren Morgan
Hove's Peter Kyle and Brighton Kemptown's Lloyd Russell-Moyle celebrate Labour's election success in the city, with city council leader Warren Morgan

Ms Adams’ campaign manager Tony Janio - who is the leader of the Tories on the city council - told the Brighton & Hove Independent at the time: “I think we have probably lost Hove.

“I think the interesting point is the turnout at 79%. There is a study going on with 38 Degrees in Hove and Bath. Quite clearly they have upped the turnout. It is the national swing as well, and it is a good campaign by Peter Kyle. I think we have had a lot of unfortunate negative press.”

He added that confusion over the Conservative manifesto may have been a factor.

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Cllr Janio said: “The people have spoken, but I’m not quite sure what they have said.

“Nationally and locally we need to spend tine working it out.

“It is always hard with snap elections and we tried to get a message through with someone who is new. It can be difficult.”

The Green Party, Liberal Democrat and Independent candidates all lost their deposits.

The results were as follows:

Kristy Adams, Conservative 18,185 (32%)

Carrie Hynds, Lib Dems 1,311 (2%)

Peter Kyle, Labour 36,942 (64%)

Phelim Mac Cafferty, 971 (2%)

Charley Sabel, Independent 187 (0%)

Turnout: 78% (initially reported as 79%)