Tories retain hold on Gravesham

by Danny Boyle

The Conservatives have stormed to victory in the marginal seat of Gravesham.

Adam Holloway, 44, retained his grip on the reins of power for a second term with a massive majority despite a fierce battle with Labour.

The former Grenadier Guards officer and television reporter won 22,956 votes - or 48 per cent.

The result gave Mr Holloway a majority of 9,312 over Labour's Kathryn Smith, who came second with 13,644 votes. In 2005, Mr Holloway had a majority of just 654.

He said: "I am genuinely stunned by the size of this majority. Over the next five years I intend to do what a good constituency MP does which is to represent everybody in the borough regardless of the party they voted for."

Gravesham was traditionally a bellwether seat until Mr Holloway broke the mould in 2005 by snatching power from Labour.

He overturned a majority of 5,000 - but was left with just 654 votes or 1.4 per cent of voters separating him from the opposition.

It made Gravesham one of the most hotly-contested constituencies in the county and a key battleground for Labour at number 12 on their hitlist.

A shadow was cast over Labour's election campaign when its candidate Kathryn Smith, 49, was last week arrested on suspicion of drink-driving.

Ms Smith, a former director of the Co-operative Bank and council leader, crashed her car into a roundabout and is now on police bail.

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