Stoke-on-Trent Labour candidate Gareth Snell predicts own defeat after exit poll

The Labour candidate in Stoke-on-Trent Central has confidently predicted his own defeat, moments after the exit poll was announced.

Gareth Snell has been the MP since a by-election in 2017. [**His constituency voted overwhelmingly to leave the EU, and has been moving away from Labour for several years.**](http://What is in MPs minds as they sit to decide the future of Brexit?)

He said; "There are some very serious questions to be asked about what the purpose of the Labour Party is going forward."

When in Parliament, Gareth Snell was one of a group of Labour MPs who consistently voted in favour of Brexit, and has been a critic of Jeremy Corbyn.

Just a few years ago, Stoke-on-Trent Central was one of the safest Labour seats in the Midlands. But the majority was cut to around 4,000 at the last election, and if the exit poll is correct, it will almost certainly be won by the Conservatives.

Read more:

• General Election 2019: East and West Midlands Analysis

• 60 Sec Elec Manifestos: What are the major political parties offering voters?

• 60 Sec Elec: Exit Poll reactions