GE2024: Labour holds Coventry North West

The Labour Party has won the seat of Coventry North West, with incumbent MP Taiwo Owatemi holding the constituency she first won in 2019.

Owatemi, who in 2019 narrowly held onto the seat with the smallest majority in its history – just 208 votes – this time increased her majority to 11,174 – winning 19,696 votes (46.9%).

Her nearest opponents, the Conservatives’ Tom Mercer and Reform UK’s Holly-Mae Nelson, came far behind with 8,522 votes (20.3%) and 7,950 votes (18.9%), respectively.

Esther Reeves of the Green Party came in fourth place with 3,420 votes (8.1%), while the Liberal Democrats’ Tom Holder received 1,931 (4.6%).

Elizabeth Richards, a Warwick student standing on an anti-abortion platform, finished last, winning 511 votes (1.2%).

Your trust in me, in our shared vision, is truly humbling

Taiwo Owatemi, MP for Coventry North West

Speaking after her reelection, Owatemi told supporters: “Your trust in me, in our shared vision, is truly humbling.”

Since first being elected to Parliament in 2019, Owatemi has served in a variety of junior roles on the Labour frontbenches, though ultimately resigned from her position as Shadow Equalities Minister in 2021 to dedicate more time to her constituency.

She celebrated the birth of a child, a “beautiful baby girl”, in December 2023.