General Election 2019: Sittingbourne and Sheppey result

jnurden@thekmgroup.co.uk

Published: 21:45, 12 December 2019 | Updated: 07:43, 13 December 2019

Boris Johnson and his Get Brexit Done campaign has bounced Conservative Gordon Henderson back into the House of Commons.

Mr Henderson, who will be 72 next month, has been returned as MP for Sittingbourne and Sheppey for the fourth time and with a 24,479 majority.

It represents 67.5% of the 51,497 votes cast which is his highest share to date.

After the announcement, just after 3am this morning at the Swallows Centre in Sittingbourne, he said: "I'm delighted. We worked hard locally and gained the reward.

He added: "Elections aren't just won at election time. They are won by work put in over many years. I'd like to think this is the result of the work I have put into the community.

"I am delighted the voters have put their trust in me yet again and I won't let them down."

Mr Henderson first won the seat in 2010 with 50% of the vote and a 13,383 majority. He won again in 2015 and 2017.

In the blue corner: victor Gordon Henderson with, on the left, former Labour candidate-turned-Tory Michael Rolfe, and on the right, county councillor Ken Pugh with at the back agent Jess McMahon and Gordon's wife Louise

He said:"There is no doubt that Brexit helped. This constituency voted 65% to leave in the Referendum.

"They were disgusted that vote was never honoured. But now, hopefully, we will be able to have a majority Conservative Government and will be leaving the EU by January 31 next year."

Labour's Clive Johnson, a former Sittingbourne school teacher who lives in Rainham, was knocked into second place polling 10,263 votes - a 19.9% share.

Mr Johnson, 58, admitted: "It was a disappointing night for Labour, both nationally and locally, but there were some bright spots. I was delighted Rosie Duffield was re-elected for us in Canterbury. But Sittingbourne and Sheppey was disappointing. We had a really positive message of hope for them."

He said it was an unusual election because it was dominated by Brexit but added that Jeremy Corbyn's leadership had been an "issue" and that the party had to "think carefully" about its future.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey general election count: Labour's Clive Johnson, left, and Roger Truelove, leader of the Labour group on Swale council (24133374)

Liberal Democrat Ben J Martin, 32, from Faversham finished third with 3,213 votes and a 6.3% share.

He said: "It was an interesting day. I think we picked up more than we expected although Gordon got it in the bag.

"It's almost as though everyone who was pro-Brexit voted for him - a man who said on live TV that there wasn't anything he could do about poverty. That was disappointing.

"It looks like we are just going to have more of the same here unfortunately."

He admitted police had warned him about death threats and had told him not to canvas on his own and to take extra precautions. But he said: "There haven't been any issues here. The candidates concentrated on issues instead of personality. We haven't had the toxicity of other areas."

Sittingbourne and Sheppey general election count: Lib Dem Ben J Martin (24133706)

Green Party candidate Sam Collins, 27, from Sheerness was at her first count. She said: "Sadly it's a Tory hold. That will mean more austerity and a very hard Brexit. But on a positive note, the end of uncertainty if they get Brexit done."

Independent Monique Bonney, 46, from Rodmersham had predicted a Tory landslide. She said: "That will mean we get Brexit done which I am really pleased about but I really fear about the consequences locally with our NHS, shortage of school places and our infrastructure gap."

Independent Lee McCall, a 38-year-old bus driver from Sheerness, mustered 327 votes and a 0.63% share.

He blamed it on Brexit and added: "I put my name forward because I wanted real change for the area and to sort out the education system and stop all the massive house building going on at the moment.

"But obviously that wasn't an important enough issue to ge me elected."

Sittingbourne and Sheppey general election count: Mad Mike Young of the Official Monster Raving Loony Party and his briefcase of bananas (24133372)

Monster Raving Loony Party stalwart Mad Mike Young, 68, from Minster was standing for his sixth time. Instead of knocking on doors in a final flourish drumming up support he proudly announced he had spent the day looking after his grandson before dashing off to the Yellow Stocks micropub for a pre-count victory party.

Once again he took along a briefcase full of bananas to give to rivals. He said: "I've had tremendous fun. I have enjoyed every second of it."

He faired slightly better than Mr McCall and polled 404 votes and 0.78%.

As soon as the count was over, workers moved in to convert the sports hall into a theatre to be ready for the panto which opens on Sunday.