Mundell takes the win
David O'Leary • Published 7 May 2010 10:16
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DAVID Mundell will once again represent Dumfriesshire, Clydesdale and Tweeddale in Westminster.
The Tory MP rejoiced at Eastbrook Hall in Dumfries as his majority rose from 1,738 to 4,194 with a turnout of 68.98 per cent.
He was swept to victory shortly before 4am after garnering 17,547 votes in total.
Labour's representative Claudia Beamish came second with 13,263 while Lib Dem candidate Catriona Bhatia finished third on 9,080 votes.
The Tory MP still remains his party's only representative in Scotland.
In his acceptance speech, a jubilant Mr Mundell said: "I am absolutely delighted to win with both an increased majority and share of the vote and I am glad to once more represent the constituency in Westminster."
He then thanked both counting centre and polling station staff for their efforts before aiming a barb at his Lib Dem rival, who had claimed the seat to be a two-horse race between herself and his party.
He said: "I'd like to thank Claudia Beamish for carrying out a dignified campaign it's just a shame that the same cannot be said for other candidates.
"There seems to be no new politics in this constituency."
Nationally Scotland's voters rallied around Labour as they took 41 of the 57 Scots seats.
Meanwhile Britain's future remains balanced on a knife-edge, with UK results pointing to a hung parliament with the Tories the largest party.
Speaking afterwards Mr Mundell elaborated further on his swipe at the Lib Dems when he said: "This has been a very disappointing night for the Lib Dems. They secured no more votes than they did five years ago; it wasn't exactly the two-horse race that they claimed.
"They spoke continuously about new politics but all I saw in Tweeddale was a fabrication of the contest whilst I was also subjected to personal attacks.
"I've meanwhile worked hard on my campaign as I also have as an MP over the past five years and I intend to carry that on."
The result in full was;
Alis Ballance - Greens 510
Claudia Beamish - Labour 13,263
Catriona Bhatia - Lib Dem 9,080
Steven McKeane - UKIP 637
David Mundell - Conservative 17,457
Aileen Orr - SNP 4,945
This article appeared in Peeblesshire News 19 Jul 10
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