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AGAINST a background of national disappointment for the Conservative party, local candidate Richard Spring has retained the West Suffolk seat with an increased majority.
Whilst William Hague was this morning resigning as Leader of the Conservative Party, Richard Spring was celebrating an increased majority of over 2000 and a swing of 3.2% from the Labour party, to take return to the Commons to again represent the West Suffolk constituency.

The full results are:
Richard Spring, Conservative, 20,201 (47.6%)
Michael Jefferys, Labour, 15,906 (37.5%)
Robin Martlew, Liberal Democrat, 5,017 (11.8%)
Will Burrows, UK Independence 1,321 (3.1%)

Majority 4,295 (10.1%)
Turnout 42,445 (59.6%) down 11.9% on 1997.

However, Mr Spring's win is overshadowed by a ten per cent fall in turnout to one of the lowest levels on record, just 59.6% compared with 71.5% in 1997, only slightly above the national average.

Many Haverhill residents had attacked the Labour candidate, Michael Jefferys, who managed to increase his share of the vote by 0.4%, of failing to care about Haverhill and only making himself known, one week before polling day by placing an advert in a local newspaper.

The Liberal Democrats share of the vote fell by 2.2%, despite nationally increasing their share of the vote and representation in the Commons.

CAPTION: Richard Spring MP who returns for a second term to the Commons representing West Suffolk