Canterbury MP Julian Brazier says he hopes to hold the seat for “many years to come” after he was knighted in the New Year Honours list.

The Conservative – who has represented the constituency for 30 years – was recognised for his contribution to politics and public service.

The 63-year-old says he is “immensely proud” to receive the honour, but adds it will not see him slipping into early retirement, as has been speculated.

“I’m honoured and humbled by the knighthood, but I hope to remain MP for many years to come yet,” he said.

“There are still lots more challenges ahead, including fighting for services at Kent and Canterbury Hospital.”

A former maths scholar at Oxford, Mr Brazier’s career started in finance and research at a mining company, and later as a management consultant.

Elected to Parliament in 1987, he has long campaigned for family values and supported adventure training for youngsters, particularly the Canterbury Sea Cadets.

He is also a staunch supporter of the Armed Forces, especially the Reserves, having served as an officer in the Territorial Army for 13 years.

Of his knighthood, he said: “I was told about it about a month ago but you are sworn to secrecy.

“You’re never quite sure about it until the list is actually published.

“I can think of many more people who deserve it, but obviously I am very pleased.

“I want to thank my wife Kate, who has been of great support and had to put up with 30 years of politics. Being an MP really is a full-on job, but I have never regretted entering politics and I have been fortunate to have a very good team around me, especially Kate and the Conservative Association, both locally and in Westminster.”

Mr Brazier has held numerous government and shadow government posts, including membership of the defence select committee.

In 1996 he was the Spectator Parliamentary Backbencher of the Year for campaigns defending marriage and amending legislation to sell off MoD housing to protect service families.

He was also founding co-chairman of the All Party Adoption Group – established to get children languishing in state care adopted – and more recently Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State in the Ministry of Defence, with responsibility for the Reserve Forces.

But despite his popularity at the ballot box, Mr Brazier regularly comes under fire on social media, with people questioning his commitment to local issues.

He has faced criticism for his more controversial views, which saw him vote against same-sex marriage.

He also recently supported air strikes against Isis in Syria and voted against a plan to allow 3,000 of people from the Calais 'jungle' into the UK, many of whom he believed were not children but young men and not Syrian.

But he did support government’s plans to bring in 3,000 unaccompanied Syrian child refugees from the camps in Lebanon and Syria to the UK and visited one of the charities in Beirut providing aid to Syrian refugees last year.

At the 2015 general election he enjoyed a majority of almost 10,000 over his nearest rival, Labour’s Hugh Lanning, earning him a seventh term in parliament.

He and Kate have three sons and live in Garlinge Green.