Blur drummer Dave Rowntree fails in bid to become Labour MP
Despite Labour’s landslide victory in the UK general election on July 4th, Blur drummer Dave Rowntree has been unsuccessful in his bid to become a Labour MP as the Mid Sussex constituency was won by the Liberal Democrats.
Rowntree announced his candidacy previously in March, before the election was officially called, and said that his area was plagued with three major problems. “This is why I got into politics,” he said after revealing his bid, “I love knocking on doors and asking people what the issues are that affect them, to ask then ‘What can I do to help?’”
The most talked about issues in the constituency related to problems with potholes, housebuilding and the condition of Burgess Hill town centre, a major contrast from preparing to play Wembley Stadium with Blur.
“The roads are in such a state that it’s dangerous,” he said to The Argus in a recent interview, “Technology has improved so that we can get the roads in the right condition instead of doing this interminable filling of potholes.”
Despite Rowntree’s best efforts, the Mid Sussex seat was won by Alison Bennett, the candidate for the Liberal Democrats. It was previously held by the Conservative member Mims Davies; however, thanks to a boundary change, she was instead running for East Grinstead and Uckfield in this general election. Regardless of the boundary change, the new Tory candidate for the area, Kirsty Adams, couldn’t secure the seat.
In total, Rowntree received 9,397 votes, landing him third place. Meanwhile, Bennett was elected after being chosen by 21,136 voters.
Bennett gave a wholesome acceptance speech, speaking highly of her community. “This is a historic moment for the Liberal Democrats,” she said.
“This is a place I’m proud to call home,” she said on the podium, “It’s a place where people are made to feel welcome and it’s a place where we care, both about where we live and each other.”
The MP continued, “People from all walks of life have been let down and taken for granted again and again by this out-of-touch Conservative government and to everyone here in Mid Sussex, no matter how you voted in this election, I hear you and I will fight for you all year round and I promise to be your local champion in Parliament.”
Bennett also said that she was humbled by the result and looked forward to working on behalf of her constituents, adding, “It’s beyond my wildest dreams in some ways to become the Member of Parliament for Mid Sussex. It’s been a journey of growth for me and the large team of volunteers over a number of years now.”
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