Long-standing Conservative MP Adam Holloway has lost his seat with Labour emerging victorious in Gravesham.

Lauren Sullivan has captured the seat for the party in a result which has mirror the success seen by Keir Starmer’s party nationally.

The Labour candidate received 16,623 votes to her Tory rival’s 13,911.

Coming in third was Reform UK’s Matthew Fraser Moat with 8,910 with Rebecca Drake Hopkins (Green) achieving 2,254 and the Liberal Democrat’s Ukonu Obasi getting 1,534.

Speaking to KentOnline after the declaration, Dr Sullivan said: “I am really, really excited.

“We have an amazing idea of change for the country and it is many, many months of knocking on doors, listening to residents of Gravesham, finding out their priorities and this is what I hope to raise in Westminster on their behalf.

“We were hopeful. Every vote and every conversation that we have had over many months has been well worth it and I am very grateful to the people of Gravesham for opening up their doors and having those conversations with me.

“Thank you so much for putting your faith, your trust and that X next to my name.

“I am pledging to work my hardest to give Gravesham my all.

“I think people have been crying out for a change and that change is what we need.”

The Kent county and Gravesham borough councillor said residents told her their main concerns were over neglected town centres, lack of police on the streets, the state of the NHS and education systems.

She added: “We were hearing these things loud and clear and we have got a plan to address them which is really exciting.”

Outgoing MP Adam Holloway gave a speech after the results were declared to respect his long service to the area.

Speaking to KentOnline afterwards, he said: “I am very sorry for the country that it is going to Labour which I think will actually be a disaster.

“Labour has not won. The reason we have lost is because of Reform.

“I am very grateful to the people of Gravesham that they continue to support me but it is impossible to win when half your voters go to another party.

“I just think that you know what is really sad for the country is that for all the criticism you can make of the Tories, Labour will be even, even worse.

“This is really bad for the country and people will wake up to that in the next couple of years.

“But we have to wish an incoming government well because we want the best for our country.

“But I slightly sort of despair that we cannot get our politics right here.”

Despite coming second, Mr Holloway has pledged to run again at the next general election in 2029.

He added: “[My team and I] tirelessly serve the people of Gravesham. That is what we have tried to do over a very long, long period.

“I think we have largely succeeded.

“From tomorrow onwards, I will still be here and I fully plan to win back here in 2029 so we can resume our tireless service to the people of Gravesham as we put it.”

The first ballot box arrived at The Woodville, in Gravesend town centre, just after the polls closed at 10pm this evening (July 4) with the count getting underway just after 12.30am.

The turnout for this year’s election was down from last year at 59.33% - it was 65.17% in 2019.

A total of 43,365 ballot papers from both polling stations and postal votes were cast.

Throughout the evening several votes were adjudicated as it was unclear on the voter’s intentions.

Some of the spoiled ballot papers included drawings of what looked like explicit images, comments such as “Mickey Mouse” and “waste of time” and others were voided as people wrote down their addresses on their votes.

In total, 134 votes were rejected.

Speaking ahead of the count starting, Liberal Democrats’ candidate Ukonu Obasi said the seat in Gravesham will be “tough” to win.

He added: “[The exit polls] look like a healthy vote but we have to wait until the counts to come in. Every vote will count.

“The people, the voters are the ones who decide.

“I am just happy to have been here, put myself forward and given the residents of Gravesham the opportunity to vote for Liberal values, to fight for our NHS and hopefully to vote out this out-of-touch Tory government.

“Here in Gravesham, it is quite a tough area for the Liberal Democrats but in other areas up and down the country I am very optimistic that a lot of my colleagues will end up in parliament and that will be a good thing for the country.”

For Rebecca Drake Hopkins, of the Green Party, it is her first time campaigning to be the area’s next MP.

She said: “Everyone I have been talking to when out and about in Gravesham has been positive about the Green Party.

“I think no matter what people's voting intentions are, the overall message has been that people are really positive that the Green Party is gaining traction politically and there is a real need for a party focusing on environmental issues in parliament.”

Historically, Gravesham has voted for the Tories since it was created in 1983 with an eight-year change from 1997 when Tony Blair’s Labour Party won its famous landslide.

When the seat was last contested in 2019, the Conservatives won with an overwhelming majority picking up 62.2% of the votes cast.

He has been the borough’s MP since 2005, however, his Labour opponent, Dr Sullivan who also stood in the last general election, has now captured the seat.

Constituents had until 10pm to cast their votes with the result declared shortly after 3am.