After winning his fifth term as Labour MP for Bury South Ivan Lewis has said he plans to continue in his role as Shadow Secretary of State for Northern Ireland post-election.
Lewis, who has held the seat since 1997, recorded 21,272 votes while the Conservative candidate Daniel Critchlow came second with 16,350.
As well as representing his constituents’ concerns the 48-year-old spoke of his role on the national political scene.
Lewis told MM: “I think the situation in Northern Ireland is incredibly fragile, we’ve seen an upsurge in dissident republican violence only in the last few weeks and we’ve got a political stalemate with the politicians unable to agree.
“Northern Ireland needs to be taken seriously and needs continuity so it is the job I would very much like to continue to do at this time.
“It’s up to the leader of the Labour party who he puts in the cabinet but I do think that having fulfilled that role in the last 18 months it would be the right thing to do.”
It was an expected victory for Labour, with them securing almost 2,000 more votes than they did five years ago, with the Tories recording numbers similar to that of 2010.
Speaking in his victory speech, Lewis said: “It’s an honour and privilege to represent the constituency where I was born and lived for my entire life.
“It’s time to draw a line under the bedroom tax, food banks and zero-hour contract Britain.
“I want to be an agent of change and improvement and give the people of Bury a country that works for the working people.”
Critchlow was gracious in defeat, adding his party is proud in their campaign efforts and believes they can challenge next time around.
Image courtesy of Labour Party, via YouTube, with thanks.
