THE 14 year-old Tory stranglehold on Bury's two Parliamentary seats is over.

On Friday morning, Conservative MPs Alistair Burt in Bury North and his Bury South counterpart David Sumberg lost to Labour's David Chaytor and Ivan Lewis respectively as Labour swept to victory locally and nationally.

Alistair Burt, MP for Bury North since 1983, was the first to learn he had lost his seat, as Labour's David Chaytor was swept in by a majority of nearly 8,000.

Mr Chaytor, now MP for the town of his birth, said: "It is a great privilege to be elected for Bury North."

He paid tribute to his predecesor, and to former Labour MPs for the town, including Frank White, MP until 1983.

Mr Chaytor swept away a Tory majority of 4, 764 to record his majority of 7,866, the highest ever recorded in the seat.

Said Mr Chaytor: "The people in this election have given their verdict on the Tory years.

"This is a victory for new Labour, for the modernisation of socialism under the leadership of Tony Blair."

He also paid tribute to Mr Burt, and added: "I will do everything in my power to live up to the confidence the people of Bury North have placed in me."

An emotional Mr Burt paid tribute to his successor, and said: "I hope he and Tony Blair's Government discharge their responsibilities to the people of Bury well."

He added: "I thank the people of Bury for all their hospitality over the past 14 years."

The size of Mr Chaytor's majority surprised many pundits.

Mr Burt said: "This is obviously a turning point in politics, I hope the Conservative Party can learn something from tonight."

LABOUR'S young pretender in Bury South, Ivan Lewis, coasted to Parliament after crushing sitting Tory David Sumberg in Bury South.

Prestwich born and bred, he rode with Labour's tidal wave to victory, turning a marginal deficit into a huge 12,000 majority.

The Tories anticipated a worrying night, but nothing prepared them for the landslide which ended Mr Sumberg's 14-year reign.

At the age of 30, Mr Lewis - Sedgley councillor for seven years - becomes one of the youngest MPs to take a seat in the Commons which is now dominated by his Labour colleagues.

"It's a very special night for me," said a clearly elated Mr Lewis.

"I'm proud to be given the opportunity to represent the area in which I was born and have lived all my life."

Beaten but unbowed, Mr Sumberg congratulated Ivan Lewis on his runaway win.

"It was a great victory and I'm very sorry to leave. I have some wonderful memories, and I couldn't have asked for a better constituency."

Despite recent council successes, there was no breakthrough for the Liberal Democrats, nor any shocks from the Referendum Party.

BURY NORTH

David Chaytor (Lab) 28,523

Alistair Burt (Con) 20,657

Neville Kenyon (Lib Dem) 4,536

Richard Hallewell (Ref) 1,337

Majority 7,866

Percentage poll 77.63%

BURY SOUTH

Ivan Lewis (Lab) 28,658

David Sumberg (Con) 16,277

Vic D'Albert (Lib Dem) 4,227

Bryan Slater (Ref) 1,216

Majority 12,381

Percentage poll 74.96%

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