Labour MPs in Bradford call for Prime Minister to resign

Bradford West MP Naz Shah and Bradford South MP Judith Cummins, who both retained their seats after Thursday’s vote, said the “contempt” Mrs May had shown for the electorate by calling a snap election had “backfired” as her gamble ended in a hung parliament.

The Labour Party’s national progress at the expense of the Tories was reflected in results closer to home, with Labour increasing its majority in all three Bradford seats while wrestling Keighley from the Conservatives and taking Leeds North West from the Liberal Democrats.

In Keighley, which had been held by former Bradford Council leader Kris Hopkins, it was Labour’s John Grogan who triumphed with a narrow majority of just 239 votes.

Imran Hussain, Labour MP for Bradford East, returned a majority of 20,540 votes over Conservative Mark Trafford.

Across the nation, the Tories ended the campaign with 318 seats - down from 331 - and eight seats short of an overall majority. Labour took 261 seats - up from 232. Just one seat, Kensington, was still to be counted yesterday.

In Leeds North West, Lib Dem MP Greg Mulholland lost his seat to Labour’s Alex Sobel with a majority of 4,224.

By lunchtime yesterday, Theresa May had gone to Buckingham Palace to ask the Queen for permission to form a government.

It is thought that she is striking a deal with the DUP to allow the Tories to continue in government.

“I really think she needs to go,” said Ms Shah, who returned as MP with a majority over Conservative candidate George Grant of almost 22,000.

“The contempt she has shown the people of the country by going to the polls in a snap election which has backfired spectacularly.

“She was part of a weak government anyway but I think this hung parliament will be harmful to the country with only a two seat majority. She needs to stand aside now. She has proved she cannot offer stability so we need to be stable. The real battle begins now.”

Ms Cummins added: “She must stand down. Theresa May chose to gamble with the interests of the country and failed and now is the time for her to think about her own future.”

Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has urged her to resign and allow him to form a minority administration, declaring: “We are ready to serve this country.”

New Labour MP for Keighley, John Grogan, said he expected there to be another election in the “not too distant future”.

“I can’t see Mrs May staying. She has lost people’s confidence and once it’s gone it’s hard to get back. I can see the party removing her and replacing her with someone like Boris Johnson. She certainly won’t be still here in five years’ time.”

Last night, Mrs May said she was “sorry” for Conservative MPs who lost their seats after her General Election gamble backfired.

The Prime Minister said the unseated MPs - including eight ministers - had not deserved to be ousted as she saw her Commons majority wiped out.

The Conservative campaign has been heavily criticised by many, with returning Shipley MP Philip Davies describing it as a “pig’s ear”.

The Tory MP, who retained his seat with a reduced majority of 4,681 over Labour’s Steve Clapcote, said, despite his relief in winning, he despaired about how his Party’s campaign had been put together.

“I am pleased with the result and to get that many extra votes from people was excellent. But the whole campaign was dire. We made a right pig’s ear of the whole national campaign.

“The manifesto was a disaster most notably the stuff on social care. That someone would draft a new policy from thin air that no one had heard of before, without any details and just weeks before an election, was crass. People were naturally concerned and it was mentioned at virtually every door I knocked on.

“Where Jeremy Corbyn scored runs was because he made his campaign on anti-austerity. Even though people probably really knew that he would not be able to deliver all he said, they wanted to believe it; rather in the same way - and I don’t want to sound rude here - that Donald Trump said he wanted to build a wall and have Mexico pay for it. People are tired of austerity and feel there is no end in sight. They wanted something to believe. He tapped into it, as well as promises to throw out tuition fees.

“As regards the hung parliament, we are where we are and I think the Conservatives are going to have to do a deal with the DUP to deliver Brexit.

“I know some of the DUP members. They are friends but they are also an eclectic bunch. What binds them to the Conservative Party is their belief in the UK.

“I am hopeful we are going to have a strong government. The alternative for everyone is another election which I don’t think people would want.”

Speaking after what appeared to be a smooth, trouble-free election night, Kersten England, chief executive of Bradford Council and returning officer said: “The elections process in the Bradford district has run smoothly and efficiently from the preparation to the polling stations and the counts. I have thanked all those who have worked so hard in this process.

“I would also like to congratulate all five of our newly elected MPs and we look forward to working with them.”

A number of polling stations had the presence of police officers which West Yorkshire Police said were for reassurance for the public, rather than protection from security issues.

Councillor Susan Hinchcliffe, leader of Bradford Council, said: “I’m delighted we’ve got the three Labour MPs in Bradford back in Westminster.

“On top of that we now have John Grogan winning a seat in Keighley, which is marvellous news.”

Speaking about calls last year by former Keighley MP Kris Hopkins and Shipley MP Mr Davies about their two constituencies breaking away and forming a separate local authority, Cllr Hinchcliffe suggested that with Keighley now having a Labour MP, this seems less likely.

She added: “The Bradford District is better together. This district has the youngest population in the UK, which gives us