WITH David Drew announcing he would like to run for the Stroud Constituency at this year’s snap general election, the SNJ take a look back at his historic victory in 1997.
Thousands of people lined the streets to hail David Drew, Stroud’s first Labour MP for almost half a century.
Crowds flocked to the town centre for the traditional May Day march, which turned into a victory celebration, as Mr Drew became part of the landslide Labour victory which ended 18 years of Conservative government.
Stroud Labour overturned a massive Conservative majority in what was seen as one of the West Country’s safest Tory seats.
Thousands of voters switched from Conservatives, Liberal Democrats and Greens to make Mr Drew only the second Labour MP in Stroud.
Mr Drew was delighted with the result and believed it was similar to Ben Parkin’s victory in the famous 1945 Labour landslide.
He said: “It’s a magnificent victory for action over words, a victory for hope over arrogance and a victory for trust over dishonesty
”It’s a victory etched with Cotswold Stone and dug from Severn Vale clay.
"I hope the constituents of Stroud will feel as proud as I am."
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