ON a night when Labour swept to power nationally, two of the party's safest seats held firm with comfortable majorities. 

It meant Marie Rimmer retained her grip on the St Helens South and Whiston seat which she has held since 2015, while David Baines became the new MP for St Helens North.

But how did the parties get on across St Helens and how should we assess the election for them?

Labour

Well, where else to start?

It was a great night for Labour across the country as Sir Keir Starmer became Prime Minister.

In St Helens, the description of the seats as Labour strongholds rang true. 

There was an overall turnout of 38,120 voters, which is 53.3 per cent of the electorate in the constituency. Turnout was down on 2019 when it stood at 62.9%.

Baines recorded 21,284 votes, with a majority of 12,709, a slight increase in the 12,209 majority which Conor McGinn secured in 2019.

Meanwhile, Labour's hold of St Helens South and Whiston continued. 

Like in St Helens North, turnout was down on 2019, dropping to 53.3 per cent, with 38,120 votes cast out of an electorate of 71,566 in the constituency.

Ms Rimmer secured victory with a majority of 11,945 votes, but - with competition from Reform UK and independent candidate James Tasker, this was down significantly on 2019 when that figure stood at 19,122.

Reform

It was an election that saw Reform have MPs elected to the House of Commons for the first time, winning four seats nationally and a host of second places across the country.

In St Helens South and Whiston and St Helens North Reform recorded strong second-placed finishes, mirroring their performance across Merseyside.

Malcolm Webster secured just short of a quarter of the vote in St Helens North, winning 9,115 votes, with more than twice the votes of the third-placed Conservatives.

He says the part is now the "opposition to Labour in St Helens".

James Tasker - Independent 

It was an impressive showing for the Independent candidate, who is a councillor for Rainhill.

Tasker fought a campaign that was very much on local issues and highlighted perceived shortcomings in the borough.

He recorded 4,244 votes to finish in third spot - a highly creditable performance and he will finish his first election campaign knowing that he left a mark.

Conservatives

A terrible night for the Tories nationally - and a poor one in St Helens, as they finished third in St Helens North and fourth in St Helens South & Whiston.

Their campaign in St Helens was barely visible.

Where do they go from here?

Green Party

They'll talk positives from this campaign, particularly in St Helens North where newcomer Daniel Thomas polled 3,495 votes.

Lib Dems

Nationally, it was a strong night for the Lib Dems. Indeed, incoming Liberal Democrat MPs have taken a record number of seats for the party in the general election, report PA.

Sir Ed Davey’s party ousted four Cabinet ministers and denied the Tories success in constituencies once held by former prime ministers Lord Cameron, Lady May and Boris Johnson.

But locally the days when they were one of the borough's strongest performing parties on election nights appear to be in the past.