The Liberal Democrats have taken control of the Hazel Grove constituency in this year's UK general election.

Lib Dem candidate Lisa Smart is the new MP, with a majority of around 7,000 votes.

She replaces Conservative MP William Wragg.

The Lib Dems were last elected to this seat in 2010, when Andrew Stunnell was the MP. Lord Stunnell had held the seat since 1997.

In the ensuing 2015, 2017, and 2019 elections, Conservative MP William Wragg was elected.

Full results are as follows, with the winner highlighted in bold:

• Paul Athans – Conservative (9,011)
• John Kelly – Reform UK (6,955)
• Tim O'Rourke – Social Democratic Party (113)
• Graham Reid – Green (1,763)
• Lisa Smart – Liberal Democrats (17,321)
• Claire Vibert – Labour (10,828)

Speaking of her win, Lisa Smart said: "This is the fourth time I've stood on this stage at a general election. [...] To be elected as the first woman to represent Hazel Grove in Parliament is the honour of my life, and it's a responsibility I don't take lightly. [...]

"My biggest thanks, of course, goes to the people of Hazel Grove - without doubt, the finest constituency in the land. Thank you for putting your trust in me to work with you on the things you told me you care about.

"Whether it's getting Stepping Hill sorted, taking real action to tackle the cost of living for those who are struggling, or bringing an end to sewage dumping, I will do my best for you."

Ms Smart also paid tribute to Lord Andrew Stunell, the former Hazel Grove MP, who passed away recently.

(Image - Declan Carey LDRS)

Speaking to the Local Democracy Reporting Service, she said: "I'm delighted for my team who campaigned really hard, it's a huge responsibility that the people of Hazel Grove have put in me.

"People have been really clear with me that they want better health services locally, they want Stepping Hill fixed, they want sewage to stop being dumped in the rivers, they want real action on the cost of living, I'm looking forward to getting started.

"One of the things any Lib Dem MP will want to do is be a local champion for their community and make a pest of themselves, I have no problem of making a pest of myself, whatever avenue we have to push the case for getting Stepping Hill properly fixed and getting a new additional hospital facility in the town centre.

"It was a great night for the Lib Dems, people felt really let down by the Conservatives, they felt like they had been taken for granted and they weren't getting the support they needed for things like the cost of living crisis."

Tory candidate Paul Athans blamed the loss on the Reform UK vote. He said: "We've seen a reduced turnout with Conservative voters staying at home, and we've seen a lot of Conservative voters switching to Reform.

Paul Athans, Conservative candidate for Hazel Grove (Image - Declan Carey / LDRS)

"It's not a good night for us nationally or locally, what I hope is in five years' time and at the next council elections we can bring some of those voters who stayed at home back over."

Labour candidate Claire Vibert said: "I'd like to congratulate Lisa Smart on her win tonight, but what we've seen in Hazel Grove is a real surge in the Labour vote, we've come second in a constituency where we've never even been close, and we've shown that the vote is there for Labour as well.

"There's more work to do in the coming months and years, and we'll keep up that work, but with the national picture and our local result I'm really pleased tonight."

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