Pharmacist and newly elected Member of Parliament Sadik Al-Hassan secured victory with 19,138 votes, propelled by a substantial surge in Labour voters
In a remarkable political shift, community pharmacist, Sadik Al-Hassan has been elected as the first Labour MP for North Somerset, toppling Liam Fox's long-standing Conservative stronghold.
This victory ends Fox’s 32-year tenure, overturning his previous majority of 17,536 votes.
Al-Hassan, who is the superintendent of online pharmacy PillTime, won the seat with 19,138 votes, thanks to a significant Labour landslide.
Sadik Al-Hassan, a pharmacist from Patchway, campaigned on key issues such as revitalising the NHS, improving local services, and environmental protection.
During the campaign, Al-Hassan emphasised his dedication to the community, citing his work as a local pharmacist during the pandemic and his tenure as Deputy Mayor in Emerson’s Green.
“It’s time for a new approach to healthcare in North Somerset — one where vital services are properly staffed and funded and more services are delivered in local communities,” Al-Hassan had remarked during his visit in Portishead’s West Hill pharmacy on June 20.
He focused on addressing local concerns, including better neighborhood policing, reliable public transport, and protecting green spaces from environmental damage.
“As a local pharmacist, I have been privileged to work in some of North Somerset’s brilliant pharmacies, including the two Day Lewis pharmacies in Nailsea and the West Hill pharmacy in Portishead, so I know how hard it is on the NHS front line,”
“Pharmacies like those in Nailsea, Clevedon, and Portishead are being asked to deliver more services, but the funding doesn’t support them, putting this vital community service at risk.”
Statistics highlight North Somerset's struggles to meet key healthcare targets, including ambulance arrivals, A&E waiting times, and GP appointments .
Following a hard-fought campaign that saw Liam Fox booted out as an MP, Al-Hassan took to social media X, formerly Twitter to express his gratitude and commitment to the community, stating:
"I am truly honoured to be elected as the first Labour Member of Parliament for North Somerset."
Royal Pharmaceutical Society (RPS) President Professor Claire Anderson welcomed Al-Hassan’s election, emphasising the vital role pharmacists will play in the future of healthcare.
She also took the opportunity to congratulate former Chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Pharmacy, Taiwo Owatemi, for having retained her seta in Coventry North West.
Calling for sustainable funding to support pharmacists in reducing health inequalities and managing long-term conditions, Anderson said:
"It's fantastic we now have two pharmacists elected to Parliament. We look forward to working with both of them.
“The future of our health service has been at the forefront of the election campaign and, amid workforce shortages and medicines supply issues, the new Government must turn its attention to enhancing patient care in a health service under continued pressure.
“Pharmacists will be central to reducing health inequalities, managing the growing cost of long-term conditions, and delivering best value from medicines for patients and the NHS.
“As pharmacists are asked to do more, this must be backed by sustainable funding, and I look forward to working with the Government on how to make the best use of pharmacists’ skills to benefit patients, including through the growing number of pharmacist prescribers.
“The Health Select Committee set out clear priorities for pharmacy in its latest report and I would urge the new Government to act on its recommendations."
