THIS week saw a historic change in the country’s government, as Kier Starmer’s Labour Party secured power following a landslide victory in the general election. However, while much of the country, and much of Cornwall was turned red last Thursday, North Cornwall saw a different colour take to the stage.  

Following a tense night of vote counting, Labour gained 211 seats, securing a 411 seat majority over Rishi Sunak’s Conservative party. 

However, in North Cornwall it was the Liberal Democrats who were celebrating on the morning of July 5 as candidate Bodmin-born Ben Maguire defeated longstanding Conservative MP Scott Mann.  

Having been held by the Conservatives since 2015, residents overwhelmingly voted in favour of change with candidate Ben Maguire receiving a massive 24,904 votes.   

In comparison, Scott Mann, who was the second most highly selected candidate received 14,137 votes from members of the public, while Reform UK’s Rowland O’Connor scooped third place with 8,444 votes. 

Following his election as MP for the area, Ben said that gaining the role in his home constituency of North Cornwall was the greatest privilege of his life, before promising that “North Cornwall will always come first” for him. 

Speaking to the electorate in Bodmin, Ben said: “Becoming the MP for my home constituency of North Cornwall is quite simply the greatest privilege of my life.  

“I joined the North Cornwall Lib Dems when I was 17 because I wanted so much to get affordable housing and jobs here in Cornwall, which meant that our young people aren't forced to move away for work like I was. In 2024, we now see housing access for our local people as an almost impossible dream. Our health service is on its knees, sewage is constantly dumped into our rivers and seas, and we face a cost of living crisis, crippling working families and there are more children living in poverty than ever before. 

“We've lived through such divisive time with Brexit, COVID, wars in Europe, there's been so much anger and disenchantment with the politics as usual approach. 

“My job now as your MP will be to try to heal these divisions and restore trust in our politics and our politicians. It is clear this morning that the country has rejected Rishi Sunak and his Conservative record of failure.  

“It's a huge undertaking to put yourself forward as a public figure and political candidate as I appreciate Scott knows well, but I'm so humbled that as well as winning the backing of our fishermen and our farmers, I've been supported by so many students and young people. They’re the future and we need to fight for their future from the climate crisis to housing to getting well paid jobs here in.  

“I can promise you this, North Cornwall will always come first for me. I’ll work hard every single day to make sure our voice is heard loud and clear in Westminster. Now let's get to work.”