Knowing how flat out I, and others on my campaign team, have worked not only during this campaign but over a much longer period, this is clearly an impressive result for Labour. Naturally I feel very disappointed. There were things that I did not expect such as the following:
- For the Labour vote to hold up in Bedfont, Feltham and Hanworth to hold up the way it did;
- For the gap between Labour and Conservatives to be as large as it was in Hounslow West & Cranford and, to a lesser extent, Heston
We secured the most votes in Bedfont, Feltham North, Feltham West, Hanworth Park and Hanworth. However, Labour won by a much greater margin in Heston West, Heston Central, Heston East, Hounslow West and Cranford.
Labour invested heavily in this constituency and I saw over 20 different items of literature from them during the campaign. They took the threat of the Conservatives seriously.
I respect and accept the decision of residents in this constituency and congratulate Mr Keen. I do not think I have ever been so tired when giving a speech before but glad I got through it at around 05:30am. My team could not have done anything more to win this and I will always be grateful to them for their passion and loyalty.
Off to another count at mid-day. I hope I will continue as a Councillor for Feltham North.
Tags: Alan Keen, Bedfont, Cranford, Feltham and Heston, Feltham North, Feltham West, General Election 2010, Hanworth, Hanworth Park, Heston Central, Heston East, Heston West, Hounslow West
Bowen's blog 
May 7, 2010 at 10:13 am
Commisserations to you, Mark, in ‘defeat’, though that scarcely seems appropriate. You fought a good fight fairly, and that’s what matters. I was pleased to be awake at around 5.30, listening to James Naughtie and Sarah Montague on Radio 4- and lying in bed reading the results as they came in on the Hounslow council website!
Well done to the team there on getting the results published on line so efficiently- and to all our borough’s election team, of whom we should be proud. It was interesting to read in the Chronicle of the Isleworth polling stations where voters had to be locked in at 10.00- thank heavens we have Democratic Services Staff of the highest order who ran things so efficiently, on what was clearly a very confusing day for some voters with two elections with very different rules (i.e. one parliamentary vote, three council votes). And from my experience at Sparrow Farm, they can stay friendly and human, even raising a laugh, without for one moment failing to ensure a fair ballot.
Your team did a great deal, but if I may suggest, perhaps you pushed the local candidate card a bit too strongly? It obviously worked well here in Feltham North- even though I confess you did not get my vote this time as PPC though you did as councillor. I’m sure you could still make a great constituency MP, but for me at least the moment was not yet right. The politest thing I can say about Alan Keen’s win is that I’m disappointed about it and ongoing events, but maybe he too might learn some humility in the months to come.
Your second chance will soon come, I hope- or rather third chance- if Mr Cameron and your party colleagues can prove themselves worthy of greater support, and surely after this they must see the importance of voting reform.
Now, perhaps we can have you back as Deputy Leader of the London Borough of Hounslow, depending on what this afternoon brings from the Civic Centre…?
May 7, 2010 at 12:11 pm
Commiserations to you Mark and everyone who supported and voted for you in Feltham and Heston. Mark, it may not seem like it now but you should feel immensely proud of the swing in Feltham and Heston from Labour to the Conservatives since 2005 and this will bode well for the future. This is a long game and eventually the Conservatives will succeed in Feltham and Heston. Labour will be counting their blessings that they held on to this seat and judging from the amount of material that they distributed they were very worried.
The pattern of votes in Heston does not surprise me and is very similar to past elections and if you or any other Conservative candidate are ever going to be elected for this seat you will need to reverse this, unless the boundaries change of course.
Overall I am disappointed with the outcome however what is most important is the progress you and the Conservative party are making in this seat. I am slightly concerned that the BNP have increased their share of the vote by 3.5% and this is something which needs to be monitored. Incidentally I did let out a small cheer on finding out that Mrs Keen was not re-elected for Brentford and Isleworth!
I will be awaiting the council votes with much enthusiasm. Good luck in that and keep up the hard work! The man who removes a mountain begins by carrying away small stones.
May 7, 2010 at 2:15 pm
Never mind Mark , if it goes to a Lib /Lab pact i can see us going back to the polls in a years time anyway …..
May 10, 2010 at 4:53 pm
What a crying shame! I felt utterly evisarated on the night and avoided visiting your site because I simply did not want to read the disappointing news you would have been compelled to give.
You really have worked hard over the last few years and you must have been very disappointed. It is very hard to take and to imagine that you should have lost by such a margin knowing the various difficulties the country faces.
Still it is quite difficult to get people to join the dots and vote for the greater good. You should know that with your background. I recognise it in mine. A more winnable seat somewhere else in the country perhaps? Good luck for the future.
May 10, 2010 at 10:30 pm
Peter,
Welcome to the blog!
I have not given the future a great deal of thought other than to say that my top political priorities are now to continue to represent Feltham North and to assist in whatever way possible in providing strong and constructive opposition on the Council.
I know that the Chronicle said I did not make much of a dent into the majority but what they did not say was that there was a large increase in turnout (which I welcome) and that there was a good increase in the share of my vote and a 4.8% swing in my favour.
But obviously I fought to win and disappointed I did not manage it.
Hope you are well!
Mark.