For one of Cornwall’s newly elected MPs the post is a little more familiar than to some.

Although the Duchy saw a complete overhaul in its leadership last night's General Election, with all six Conservative incumbents losing their seats to four Labour members and two Lib Dems, one of the elected actually knows his constituency – and the role – rather well. 

Andrew George has already done the job for 18 years, as sitting MP for St Ives and its wider West Cornwall area between 1997 and 2015.

The Liberal Democrat, who won his role back from Conservative Derek Thomas by polling 25,033 votes to the Tory’s 11,247, described it as an “an honour to represent West Cornwall and Scilly again” after a nine-year absence.

He also vowed to “put the best interests of our area above party tribalism.”

Read more about who won each seat in Cornwall here: Cornwall turns red and yellow! General Election winners and losers

Welcoming the election result Mullion-born Mr George announced six key priorities he wanted to work on:

  • To restore our NHS and care services
  • To secure genuine housing justice
  • To restore our nature and combat the climate crisis
  • To combat the widening inequality in our society
  • To restore our reputation in the world
  • To re-establish values of decency, integrity, justice, and kindness at the centre of our politics.

He said: “As I have done before, I will fight for West Cornwall & the Isles of Scilly; to ensure our voice is heard in Westminster.

“That means working across parties, seeking common cause, but also taking the tough decisions for the public good and the best outcome for our area.

“As before, I will always put the best interests of our area above party tribalism – as I always have done.

“As I did when I was our MP, I will seek to be a voice for those who've been handed an unfair deal in life.

“As before, I am committed to combat the injustices which so many people suffer.

“As I did when I was our MP, I will fight for a fair deal for our area.

"It is an honour to once again represent the area in which I was born and brought up. It is humbling and inspiring to represent such wonderful communities and people.

"I look forward to working with Ed Davey and the fantastic new Liberal Democrat Parliamentary team; to make sure the new government delivers its pledges, and to hold them to account; and to work across parties to restore our country, its reputation, and the reputation of our Westminster politics.”

Read more: Election turnout and full voting breakdown for every constituency in Cornwall

Mr George revealed that it had not been an easy election campaign after suffering personal loss during it.

"It's been a difficult campaign. I lost my dear mother during the campaign, and then a very close work colleague died unexpectedly,” said Mr George, who added: “Our success would not have been possible if i did not have an outstanding team of volunteers led by our constituency chair Marc Hadley, constituency agent Liz Wilkin, and all ably supported by our organiser Juliet Line and election agent Richard Goedegebuur.

"I hope constituents will bear with me for a few weeks until I manage to get my administrative systems set up. I remember just how difficult it was when I was first elected in 1997.

“But we didn't have so many electronic communications in those days. I won't get my parliamentary email and admin systems for a few days and will need to appoint staff and find suitable constituency accommodation in due course."

Since his last time in office Mr George has been kept busy as chief executive of Cornwall Community Land Trust, which oversees the building of properly affordable homes with community requirements, and was also elected to Cornwall Council 2021 as councillor for Heamoor, Ludgvan, Madron, Gulval, Zennor, Morvah, Newmill and the surrounding hamlets and moors.

Conservative candidate Derek Thomas, who has lost his seat after nine years in the post, also gave his reaction in the moments after the result was declared.

He said: “To serve as a local MP, it’s been brilliant. I’ve been so grateful to those who trusted me with their vote in 2015, 2017 and 2019, and also those who continued to support me yesterday with such a difficult picture nationally.

"I have to take responsibility for what I’ve been doing locally. The people of this constituency obviously didn’t think that I could carry on doing the job in the way they wanted it. I take responsibility for that.

“I have genuinely been working to win seats so I am absolutely spend some time with my family. They’ve paid far too high a price for everything over the last nine years.

“But my concern really is what happens to the Conservative Party. This government has a good opposition. The country and the democratic system needs a strong, effective opposition, so I really hope that we don’t bend, falling out with each other, and rally round to hold Keir Starmer and the government to account. That is the most important thing we need to do today.”