Hands Says 'Highly Toxic' Corbyn Reason For Victory
Claims Remain voters in Chelsea and Fulham now just want to ‘get on’ with Brexit
Veteran Conservative Greg Hands has said Labour voters in Chelsea and Fulham backed him because they found Jeremy Corbyn “highly toxic”.
Mr Hands, 54, increased his majority from 8,188 votes to 11,241, in a contest that also saw an increased voter turnout compared with 2017.
Liberal Democrat candidate Nicola Horlick came second with 12,104 votes, and Matt Uberoi of Labour had 10,872 votes.
A succession of polls before 12 December had predicted the Lib Dems would come a close second.
On the morning after polling day, Mr Hands said: “That was the hardest fight we have had in Chelsea and Fulham since the seat was created in 2010.
“I had a lot of support from other parties, Labour and the Liberals, and from people who had not voted before.
“There was a very hostile reaction to Jeremy Corbyn. That was down to his far-left policies, anti-Semitism, his stance on internal affairs, he always sides up with Britain’s enemies.
“Jeremy Corbyn was highly toxic in Chelsea and Fulham.”
He was also confident that he would still have won if he had only faced the Lib Dems or Labour, rather than both parties.
| Party | Candidate | Votes | % | +/- % |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Conservative |
Greg Hands | 23,345 |
- |
- |
| Liberal Democrat |
Nicola Horlick | 12,104 |
- |
- |
Labour |
Matt Uberoi | 10,872 |
- |
- |
| Animal Welfare Party |
Samuel Morland | 500 |
- |
- |
The MP of 14 years said: “Chelsea and Fulham voted roughly 70 per cent to remain, but that was the situation three years ago.
“Actually a large part of the remain and leave vote just wanted us to get on with it and respect the democratic decision. That’s what I kept hearing on the doorstep.”
Mr Hands was asked what the next term in Parliament will be like, with the potential for years of trade talks with the EU, the USA and other nations still to come.
He replied: “I look forward to that. I think it’s a myth that we’re not ready to do trade talks. It’s been three-and-a-half years, and everyone knows what the issues are in Brussels and in London.
“I’m confident that a trade deal [with the EU] will be sorted by 2020.”
Mr Hands, who is married with two children, added the he will be resting this weekend and enjoying some “intense family time”.
“Then we will see what happens in Parliament on Monday or Tuesday,” he added.
Owen Sheppard - Local Democracy Reporter
December 13, 2019