Labour’s general election candidate Emily Darlington has just been elected as the new MP for Milton Keynes Central.
Milton Keynes South Labour members chose local councillor Emily Darlington as their next general election candidate, with boundary changes seeing her become the candidate for the new seat of Milton Keynes Central. Darlington was first elected to represent Bletchley East ward on the council in 2018 and is currently deputy leader of the Labour group, as well as serving as cabinet member for adults, housing and healthy communities.
Since the election was called last week, me and my team have spoken to almost 1,500 people across Milton Keynes Central. They told us that the country cannot go on like this. We all agree it is time for change. #voteLabour 🌹 pic.twitter.com/ELvm7eFgBQ
— Emily Darlington (@emily4MK) May 31, 2024
READ MORE: More profiles of new Labour MPs at the 2024 general election
The seat was a key battleground Labour that analysis suggests Labour had needed to win to secure an overall majority, assuming a uniform national swing.
To win the constituency, Labour had required a swing result of at least X percentage points from its tally at the 2019 general election.
Labour’s target seat list is not public, but this seat ranks X on LabourList‘s unofficial list of targets – based on the smallest swings required versus the 2019 election.
Nationally, experts suggest Labour needs a swing from the Tories of 8.2pp to be the largest party, 12.7pp to gain an overall majority and 13.8pp for a majority of 30+.
READ MORE: Sign up to our must-read daily briefing email on all things Labour
Read more of our 2024 general election coverage:
Could Labour take ‘non-battleground’ Tory seats across the South West?
Meet NHS doctor Zubir Ahmed, fighting one of Scotland’s tightest marginals
Brighton Pavilion: As Starmer visits, can Labour win the Greens’ one seat?
Labour wants a new generation of new towns. Can it win in Milton Keynes?
Meet Gordon McKee, the 29-year-old son of a welder vying for Glasgow South
Revealed: The battlegrounds attracting most activists as 17,000 sign up
SHARE: If you have anything to share that we should be looking into or publishing about this story – or any other topic involving Labour or the election – contact us (strictly anonymously if you wish) at [email protected].
SUBSCRIBE: Sign up to LabourList’s morning email here for the best briefing on everything Labour, every weekday morning.
DONATE: If you value our work, please donate to become one of our supporters here and help sustain and expand our coverage.
PARTNER: If you or your organisation might be interested in partnering with us on sponsored events or content, email [email protected].
More from LabourList
Starmer vows ‘sweeping changes’ to tackle ‘bulging benefits bill’
Local government reforms: ‘Bigger authorities aren’t always better, for voters or for Labour’s chances’
Compass’ Neal Lawson claims 17-month probe found him ‘not guilty’ over tweet