Tories keep Widdecombe's former seat

Helen Grant succeeded long-serving MP Ann Widdecombe to become Maidstone and the Weald's first new MP for 23 years.

A euphoric Mrs Grant (Con) was elected with a majority of just short of 6,000 over the Lib Dem's Peter Carroll, with 23,491 votes compared to Mr Carroll's 17,602.

Her majority was less than Miss Widdecombe's had been, representing an 8.5 per cent swing to the Lib Dems, but not enough to significantly dent the Conservatives' lead.

Mrs Grant thanked her campaign team, including agent Brian Moss, and said: "I must give my biggest thank you to all those voters who have put their trust in me and I promise you that I will strive to achieve change with determination and serve you with honesty and integrity."

She added: "It is quite humbling actually. I feel euphoric. We have worked very hard indeed; I have had a fantastic campaign team with me."

Other candidates standing were Dr Rav Seeruthun (Lab) with 4,769 votes; Gareth Kendall (UKIP) with 1,637; the Greens' Stuart Jeffery with 655 votes; Gary Butler (National Front) with 643 and Heidi Simmons (Christian) with 131 votes.

Mr Carroll said: "I am disappointed that we didn't win the Parliamentary seat; there was always an outside chance that we were going to do that but it wasn't to be."

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