Ian Murray says ‘politics of division defeated’ after Labour win in Batley and Spen

Ian Murray has claimed Labour’s Batley and Spen victory shows the “politics of division has been defeated”.

By Alexander Brown

Published 2nd Jul 2021, 10:20 BST

Updated 2nd Jul 2021, 17:26 BST

Labour’s shadow Scotland secretary has hailed the result after Kim Leadbeater won by just 323 votes after a bitter and divisive campaign that many had predicted the party would lose.

She secured the seat – which Labour held at the 2019 general election with a 3,525 majority – with 13,296 votes, narrowly beating Conservative Ryan Stephenson on 12,973.