There can be no doubt who the night's big winner was, as Labour's Rosie Duffield took Canterbury and Whitstable from the Conservatives - a seat they had held for more than 160 years.

The result was as much of a surprise to Ms Duffield as it was to the electorate.

She told KentOnline: "I am hugely shocked. Thank you so much to the Canterbury district - we have made history.

"There has been 160 years of the Conservative party here and we have just broken that record."

Defeated Sir Julian Brazier said: "I would like to congratulate Rosie on her victory and take this opportunity to thank the people of Canterbury for putting up with me for 30 years in the House of Commons."

Elsewhere it was a clean sweep for the Conservatives across Kent and Medway.

Rehman Chishti, Gillingham and Rainham, MP, said: “I’m absolutely delighted, honoured and privileged to be re-elected.

“I just want to thank all the wonderful people from Gillingham and Rainham who have given me a chance to serve a third term.”

In Ashford, Damian Green said: “I’m absolutely delighted to have won again.

“It’s the sixth time I’ve fought Ashford and we got 58% of the vote which is the highest percentage I’ve ever had.

“I’m really grateful to the people in Ashford for voting for me one more time.”

Helen Grant, re-elected in Maidstone and the Weald, said: "I felt we ran a good campaign. I had amazing people supporting me and it was all down to the good people of Maidstone and the Weald who trusted me and put there faith in me and I will not let them down."

Helen Whately (Faversham and Mid Kent) said: "I've only been an MP for two years. It feels like I've just got going and there's so much that I've been working on that I want to keep working on."

Gordon Henderson (Sittingbourne and Sheppey) said: "I would like to thank my fellow candidates in this election who've fought a clean fight. I, in no way whatsoever, can criticise them as their attitudes have been exemplary.

"I'd also like to thank my supporters for their continued support and, more importantly, the people of Sittingbourne and Sheppey who have put their trust in me yet again and I want to give them assurance I won't betray that trust."

Charlie Elphicke (Dover) said: "It's a humbling experience and I'm looking forward to getting back to the job.

"We've been on an incredible journey in the seven years since 2010. Back then, our port was up for sale, we didn't get our fair share of healthcare, they said that we couldn't have the fast train because it couldn't go to plans like Deal.

Now, today we've got hospitals built, the fast train goes to Deal, we saved the port and we've got hundreds of millions of pounds in investment.

"My promise to the people of Dover and Deal is we have a record of action and a promise of more."

Kelly Tolhurst (Rochester and Strood

) said: "Well done to everyone who has worked really hard

I have loved representing the place I love over the past two years."

Helen Grant (Maidstone and the Weald) said: " "I felt we ran a good campaign. I had amazing people supporting me and it was all down to the good people of Maidstone and the Weald who trusted me and put there faith in me and I will not let them down."

Tracey Crouch (Chatham and Aylesford) said: "I'm so grateful to everyone who voted for me in Chatham and Aylesford. I'm truly humbled & look forward to getting on with the job."

Gareth Johnson (Dartford) said: "As we speak the picture nationally is a little bit hit and miss, we don't know exactly what make-up the government is going to have or indeed who the government is going to be, but locally here in Dartford we held a very positive campaign. "What we wanted to do was explain why people should vote Conservative and that seems to have paid off."It's important that people realise we could gain something here by putting out a very clear message to people that by voting Conservative here things like the Lower Thames Crossing were going to be located in a place that was better for Dartfordians.Adam Holloway (Gravesham) said: I'm very grateful to the people of Gravesham. They didn't vote for me because I'm perfect, I think they voted for me because they know I'll continue to do my best for them regardless of how they vote."Greg Clark (Tunbridge Wells) said: "I'm very honoured that the people of Tunbridge Wells have reelected me to stand for them.

"To know there are more people voting for me is something I'm honoured to be in receipt of.

"I always enjoyed and I put first representing my constituents. We have got some very important priorities such as improving mental health services in our area making further improvement to our roads and it's so important to make sure that we make a case for young people to stay in the area with affordable housing."

Craig Mackinlay (Thanet South) said: "It's fantastic. When we first arrived the piles were building up and it was looking a little bit tight for a while but 6,387 in the end is a very reasonable majority and I'm very pleased with that.

"I never expected the CPs charges to be helpful but as it happened I think the people in Thanet have seen it, they've recognised it and they like the work I've done and they're re-elected me so I think that's a great endorsement for the work I've done."

Sir Roger Gale (North Thanet) said: "I always find it very humbling to be elected. I never take it for granted. I've been fortunate enough to have a sizeable majority in this constituency for quite a long time.

"But there's a pay back for that. The pay back is hard work.You have to get on and do the job. So it's the people of North Thanet, the people of Herne Bay, the people of Margate and of the villages that I say thank you to. And to my team, who are wonderful."