I can't wait to get to work, says Westbury On Trym's new MP Charlotte Leslie

Charlotte Leslie, the new MP for Bristol North West, says she can't wait to get to work.

The Conservative, who grew up in Bristol, was the odds-on favourite to win and was confirmed as the new MP at 5.30am yesterday after a long wait at the count at Bristol City’s Ashton Gate stadium.

She took 38 per cent of the vote, had a 3,274 majority, and polled a total of 19,115 votes.

The turnout was 68.5 per cent.

Boundary changes in the constituency at this General Election saw seven wards go, three of them in Bradley Stoke and the others in Filton, Patchway, Stoke Gifford and Winterbourne. 

Into Bristol North West came Westbury-on-Trym, Stoke Bishop and Henleaze.

Charlotte said: “It feels absolutely fantastic to be Bristol North West’s new MP.

"It’s now an enormous responsibility, not just to meet expectations but to exceed them. I can’t wait to roll my sleeves up and really get to work.

“I want to say a huge thank you to everyone who voted for me. I won’t let you down.”

Her pre-election campaigning included improving children’s education, sorting out the "mess of Bristol’s public transport", and making sure young people had constructive activities so they are not out on the street behaving anti-socially.

She had also been campaigning for the public’s voice to be heard "whether it is in opposing the tragic closure of our local post offices, or for residents to get a real say in the future of our public green spaces".

Bristol North West results in full:

Charlotte Leslie (Conservative) 19,115 votes

Paul Harrod (Lib Dem) 15,841

Sam Townend (Labour) 13,059

Robert Upton (UKIP) 1,175

Ray Carr (English Democrats) 635

Alex Dunn (Green) 511

Meanwhile in the neighbouring Bristol West constituency, Stephen Williams held the seat decisively for the Liberal Democrats with a 48 per cent share of the vote.

He got 26,593 votes, beating Labour's Paul into second place (15,227 votes). The Conservatives' Nick Yarker was third (10,169 votes). Ricky Knight, for the Greens, was fourth with 2,090 and UKIP fifth with 655 votes.

Independent candidate Danny Kushlick polled 343 votes and the English Democrats' Jon Baker came last with 270 votes.

The turnout was 66.9 per cent.