Felixstowe residents react as Therese Coffey ousted by Labour

Helen Clark, 65, said: “I’m very happy – I never thought it would happen during my lifetime.

“It’s no slim victory, and you could say that Reform UK were a big part of that victory,” she said.

“I’ve been voting all my life and it’s the first time I’ve ever voted for a candidate who’s won, so I’m delighted.

“I’ve met Jenny [Riddell-Carpenter] – she’s fabulous, she’s very committed to the local area, which our previous MP wasn’t.

“My vote was purely based on getting rid of Therese Coffey – but voting for change as well,” she said.

“My Liberal Democrat vote wouldn’t have got rid of Therese Coffey.”

Ms Clark said the former MP had shown a “lack of interest in her constituency”, which was one of the things that “made her a toxic candidate for me”.

Mary Ellis, 69, was equally pleased, saying the Labour win was “excellent news for the town”.

She voted Labour “because I don’t think the Conservatives have done anything for us in the last 14 years and it’s time for a change”.

She said she had previously voted Conservative several times, as well as for the Liberal Democrats but this time, Labour got her vote.

“I will see what they do in the next five years and make my mind up again,” she added.