GE2019: Labour hold for Coventry North West

Taiwo Owatemi has been elected Member of Parliament for Coventry North West, replacing retiring MP Geoffrey Robinson and continuing Labour control of the constituency.

Owatemi won 20,918 votes, a share of 43.8%. Conservative challenger Clare Golby came second, winnning 20,710 votes, a share of 43.4%.

There were five candidates standing in the seat – Owatemi, Golby, Greg Judge (Liberal Democrat), Stephen Gray (Green Party) and Joshua Richardson (Brexit Party).

Coventry North West is regarded as a Labour safe seat, and has only been represented by that party since its creation in 1974. It has never returned a Labour vote share of lower than 40%.

In the 2016 Brexit referendum, it voted Leave by a total of 58.37%.

Geoffrey Robinson had represented Coventry North West since 1976, and served as Paymaster General from May 1997 to December 1998. He was also the owner of the New Statesman political magazine from 1996 to 2008.

He announced his intention to stand down as an MP in July of this year, due to ill health.

In a statement, he said: “There is nothing more important or rewarding than helping people, however I need to be fully fit to do the job properly.”

There was a turnout of 64%, a decrease from the 2017 voter turnout of 66.3%.