General Election 2019: Reaction in Harborough to the exit poll

Reporter Red Williams is live at the count for the Harborough seat, speaking to candidates and representatives. Here is his report.
Our reporter is live at the Harborough count.Our reporter is live at the Harborough count.
Our reporter is live at the Harborough count.

Reacting to the stunning exit poll prediction, Neil O’Brien, fighting to be re-elected as Conservative MP, told the Mail: “I’m extremely pleased.

“There is a clear appetite both locally and nationally to get Brexit done now.

“There’s also been a fantastic reaction to Boris Johnson’s One Nation philosophy.

People have liked Boris on the whole and they haven’t liked Jeremy Corbyn.

“Brexit has cropped up time and again on doorsteps – but alongside a whole load of other issues.

“Social care, schools and the NHS have also come up.

“It’s very positive to have people endorse what we are saying but there will be no complacency.

“We will be up and at them so to speak and doing what we’ve been asked to.”

Harborough Labour candidate Celia Hibbert said she was still hoping for the best tonight despite the national exit poll flagging up a crushing Tory majority.

The exit poll predicts victory for Neil O’Brien, but Ms Hibbert told the Harborough Mail: “The exit poll is one thing but we are still waiting for confirmation on the ground. Let’s see what happens.

“We are being cautiously optimistic.

“We ran a very credible campaign.

“I’m very proud of my team – they worked flat out for me and for Labour.”

Green Party battler Darren Woodiwiss, 50, said: “A Tory Government would be a huge disaster for the environment.

“The party’s environment bill as part of Brexit has no teeth.

“We’d go back to being the dirty man of Europe.

“But we in the Green Party are prepared to work with anyone so let’s see.

“The trouble is that people see a vote for the Green Party as a wasted vote.”

Independent Robin Lambert said: “I think the Tories will win a 40-45-seat majority myself.

“Rather than the Brexit election I’d call this ‘the save democracy’ election.

“I want Harborough’s Tory council to get tougher with developers and work harder to protect our green belt and environment.”

Liberal Democrat candidate Zuffar Haq said: “The exit poll is very sad.

“I’m very sorry for all my team – they’ve worked their socks off in this campaign.

“We’ve tried our best and we didn’t want this.

“But people are focused on Brexit and there’s a huge amount of frustration that it’s not been done.

“Voters feel that crucial issues such as the NHS, police, schools and social care have been pushed to one side.

“The Tory mantra of Get Brexit Done has cut through to people.

“As for me, I’m going nowhere.

“I’m from Leicester and this is personal for me so I’ll be keep battling away for local people.”