Mid Beds voices: 'The Conservatives have let us down'

Labour has made history by winning the Mid Bedfordshire seat, held by the Tories since 1931. But what do commuters at Flitwick railway station make of the constituency's new direction of travel?

People in Flitwick are worried about what the future holds.

They say they have lost vital services, including the post office and a bank, while gaining hundreds of extra homes that have, in turn, put increased pressure on local services.

The status quo, residents say, was not working for the benefit of the community.

The by-election was publicly demanded in July by Flitwick Town Council when it urged Nadine Dorries to quit as an MP, accusing her of a "continuing lack of representation" for constituents.

The voters have now had their say, electing Labour's Alistair Strathern with a 1,192 majority, overturning Ms Dorries' 2019 majority of 24,664.

The win is the largest Conservative majority overturned by Labour at a by-election since 1945.

"I'm happy with the result," said 43-year-old solicitor Chris Daglish, previously a Conservative voter.

"I just felt the Conservatives have let us down. I haven't been able to get a dental appointment for over a year, the post office has gone and I don't think they are working for the local population.

"There's no infrastructure and there's all these houses being built with no additional schools, or dentists or doctors.

"I don't think they are thinking about the bigger picture. I felt my only option was to vote for Labour, really, so that was my decision."

"I'm very pleased, very pleased. It is about time we had a different [MP] around here, definitely," said Delia Clegg, 57.

"I would have been surprised if he [Mr Strathern] had not won because he has done a big campaign around here.

"He's done a good job and he deserves to have won.

"I want better infrastructure in towns, and especially our town because it is expanding so much. Our schools, our dentists - everything is really under strain."

Nurse Frieda Tutu-Acheampong, on her way to work at Great Ormond Street Hospital, was not surprised by the result.

"It is the way things are going and people want a change," the 42-year-old said.

"I am pleased, it is good. If that is what people want, let the best party win."

Ian Murphy, a 65-year-old trade union official, was not aware of the result before speaking with the BBC.

"Fantastic," he said. "I'm a little surprised. I'm delighted that Alistair has won the election.

Mr Murphy said he wanted his new MP "to be seen".

He said he hoped there would now be a concerted effort to get a post office back in Flitwick.

Alan Williams, 67, works in healthcare and lives in Shefford.

"I did vote and on this occasion I did not vote Conservative," he said. "Normally I do."

He said he stayed up into the early hours to follow the result through to the end.

"The result didn't surprise me," he said.

"They [the Conservatives] got what they deserved. The Nadine Dorries situation - that didn't help a lot. All that delay of 'I've resigned immediately' and then didn't happen until months later.

"I thought the Lib Dems might have got in, but that didn't happen.

"Perhaps the potholes will start to be mended now."

Asked how he would have voted had this been a General Election, Mr Williams said: "Well, let's see what happens."