By Rachael Grealish

As Taylor Swift said: “These things will change” and they did throughout Cumbria as the Conservative Party lost all its previous seats in the county.

Cumbria was no exception to the rule with a nationwide Labour landslide victory as the party gained four out of five of the seats up for grabs.

Who are the new Cumbrian MPs?

Five seats were up for grabs in Cumbria, following the 2023 boundary changes: Whitehaven and Workington, Penrith and Solway, Carlisle, Barrow and Furness and Westmorland and Lonsdale.

Whitehaven and Workington

Winner: Labour’s Josh MacAlister

Made up of parts of the former Copeland and Workington constituencies, its former Conservative MP, Trudy Harrison, stepped down for the General Election.

Labour Party candidate, Josh MacAlister, won the constituency seat with 53 per cent of the vote.

In a Facebook statement, Mr MacAlister said: “I will work tirelessly to serve you in our parliament. Labour’s task is to serve the country, in return for the trust you have placed in us.”

Penrith and Solway

Winner: Labour’s Markus Campbell-Savours

Made up of parts of the former Penrith and the Borders and Workington constituencies, former Conservative MP, Mark Jenkinson, did stand for the seat in the General Election, but did not win only taking 29.9 per cent.

In a statement on social media post, Mr Jenkinson said: “I will never give up fighting for our area, so rather than offering a ‘goodbye’ – I’ll end instead with a ‘see you later’.”

Labour Party candidate, Markus Campbell-Savours, won the consistency seat with 40.6 per cent of the vote.

Carlisle

Winner: Labour’s Julie Minns

The former Carlisle MP, John Stevenson, fought to keep his seat in the 2024 election, after 14 years as the area’s MP, however, he came in second with 28.1 per cent of the vote.

Labour Party candidate, Julie Minns, won the constituency seat, with 39.4 per cent of the vote.

Upon winning Ms Minns posted on social media, the video of her speech saying: “It is an honour and a privilege to represent my home, and to be the first female MP for Carlisle.”

Barrow and Furness

Winner: Labour’s Michelle Scrogham

The former Barrow and Furness MP, Simon Fell, who took the seat in the 2019 General Election, also fought to keep his seat, however, like many of his colleagues, he came in second to a Labour gain.

Labour Party candidate Michelle Scrogham, won the constituency seat with 43.9 per cent.

On social media, Ms Scrogham said: “Humbled by the support, the real work starts now. Thank you to everyone who voted for me, and to those who didn’t, I hope to earn your trust going forward and promise to represent the whole of our constituency.”

Westmorland and Lonsdale

Winner: Lib Dem’s Tim Farron

In 2017, the Westmorland and Lonsdale seat became the only Liberal Democrat seat in northwest England.

Although it’s boundary lines changed for the 2024 election the party managed to keep hold of the seat as the former Liberal Democrat leader and former MP of the seat, Tim Farron, won the constituency seat with 62.7 per cent of the vote.

How did your area vote in the General Election 2024?

Although it was a landslide win for Labour and a record-breaking loss for the Conservative party, the turn-out for the General Election 2024 was only 59.9 per cent, a 7.4 per cent drop from 2019.

The turnout was similar across the Cumbrian constituencies.

In Whitehaven and Workington only 57.2 per cent of voters turned out to vote.

Labour’s Josh MacAlister won with 22,173 votes – 53 per cent.
Reform UK’s David Surtees got 8,887 votes – 21.2 per cent.
Conservative candidate Andrew Johnson got 8,455 votes – 20.2 per cent.
Green Party’s Jill Perry got 1,207 votes – 2.9 per cent.
Liberal Democrat candidate Chris Wills got 1,118 votes – 2.7 per cent

In Penrith and Solway 63.2 per cent of voters turned out to vote.

Labour’s Markus Campbell-Savours won with 19,986 votes – 40.6 per cent
The former Conservative MP, Mark Jenkinson, got 14,729 votes -29.9 per cent.
Reform UK’s Matthew Moody got 7,624 votes – 15.5 per cent.
Liberal Democrat Julia Aglionby got 4,742 votes – 9.6 per cent.
Green Party’s Susan Denham-Smith got 1,730 votes – 3.5 per cent.
Independent Chris Johnston got 195 votes – 0.4 per cent.
Social Democratic Party’s Shaun Long got 156 votes – 0.3 per cent.
Independent Roy Ivinson got 119 votes – 0.2 per cent.

In Carlisle, the turnout was only 59.1 per cent.

Labour’s Julie Minns won with 18,129 votes – 39.4 per cent.
Former Conservative MP, John Stevenson got 12,929 votes – 28.1 per cent.
Reform UK’s Stephen Ward got 9,295 votes – 20.2 per cent.
Liberal Democrat Brian Wernham got 2,982 votes – 6.5 per cent.
Green Party Gavin Hawton got 1,922 votes – 4.2 per cent.
Independent candidate Sean ReedSean Reed got 303 votes – 0.7 per cent.
Social Democratic Party Rachel Hayton got 244 votes – 0.5 per cent.
Independent candidate Thomas Lynestrider got 175 votes – 0.4 per cent.

In Barrow and Furness only 56.3 per cent of voters turned out.

Labour’s Michelle Scrogham won with 18,537 votes – 43.9 per cent.
Former Conservative MP Simon Fell got 13,213 votes – 31.3 per cent.
Reform UK’s Barry Morgan got 7,035 votes – 16.7 per cent.
Liberal Democrat Adrian Waite got 1,680 votes – 4 per cent.
Green Party’s Lorraine Wrennall got 1,466 votes – 3.5 per cent.
Party of Women candidate Lisa Morgan got 290 votes – 0.7 per cent.

In Westmorland and Lonsdale there was a turn-out of 68.8 per cent – the highest in Cumbria.

Liberal Democrat MP Tim Farron held the seat with 31,061 votes – 62.7 per cent.
Conservative Matty Jackman got 9,589 votes – 19.4 per cent.
Reform UK’s James Townley got 4,842 votes – 9.8 per cent.
Labour’s Pippa Smith 2,306 votes – 4.7 per cent.
Green Party’s Phil Clayton got 1,486 votes – 3 per cent.
Independent candidate John Studholme got 111 votes – 0.2 per cent.
Heritage Party candidate Izzy Solabarrieta 81 votes – 0.2 per cent.
Social Democratic Party’s Wendy Long got 57 votes – 0.1 per cent.