Out Tory Eric Ollerenshaw loses Lancaster and Fleetwood seat to Labour

Conservative Eric Ollerenshaw, who recently recently reflected on his 35-year relationship with his late partner Michael, has lost his Lancaster and Fleetwood seat.

Mr Ollerenshaw lost the seat in a tight race, gaining 16,378 votes compared to Labour’s Catherine Smith’s 17,643. UKIP’s Matthew Atkins came third with about 10 pecent of the vote share.

On losing his partner Michael to pancreatic cancer,63-year-old Mr Ollerenshaw said the grief almost made him quit politics, but is now more determined than ever to raise awareness of the cancer.

He said: “Thirty-five years, eight months and 17 days we had together,” speaking of his relationship with Michael Donoghue. “And then pancreatic cancer took him in six weeks. It’s just no time at all.”

Mr Ollerenshaw’s defeat was a rare one in the 2015 general election, with twenty seats to declare, the Tories looked set to gain an overall majority.

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