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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
|---|---|
| Labour hold as Rantzen bid fails | Labour hold as Rantzen bid fails |
| (40 minutes later) | |
| Labour has managed to hold on to Luton South - the former seat of Margaret Moran - despite a challenge by television presenter Esther Rantzen. | Labour has managed to hold on to Luton South - the former seat of Margaret Moran - despite a challenge by television presenter Esther Rantzen. |
| Labour's Gavin Shuker won 14,725 votes, a majority of 2,329 over Conservative candidate Nigel Huddleston. | Labour's Gavin Shuker won 14,725 votes, a majority of 2,329 over Conservative candidate Nigel Huddleston. |
| Ms Rantzen decided to stand after Ms Moran faced serious criticism over her expenses claims. | Ms Rantzen decided to stand after Ms Moran faced serious criticism over her expenses claims. |
| She polled 1,872 votes. The Liberal Democrat candidate Qurban Hussain received 9,567 votes. | She polled 1,872 votes. The Liberal Democrat candidate Qurban Hussain received 9,567 votes. |
| "People are really voting for the next prime minister, aren't they?" Ms Rantzen said. | |
| "Speaking as a floating voter myself, I understand that." | |
| Gavin Shuker said: "I am absolutely delighted, and not just because there was a legacy left by Margaret Moran, but because I genuinely think this is the best result for the people of Luton South." | Gavin Shuker said: "I am absolutely delighted, and not just because there was a legacy left by Margaret Moran, but because I genuinely think this is the best result for the people of Luton South." |
| Kelvin Hopkins held Luton North for Labour. | Kelvin Hopkins held Luton North for Labour. |
| Range of issues | Range of issues |
| Iain Stewart took the Milton Keynes South seat for the Tories in a gain from the Labour MP Phyllis Starkey with a majority of 5,201. Milton Keynes North was won by Mark Lancaster for the Tories with 23,419. | Iain Stewart took the Milton Keynes South seat for the Tories in a gain from the Labour MP Phyllis Starkey with a majority of 5,201. Milton Keynes North was won by Mark Lancaster for the Tories with 23,419. |
| Conservative Stephen McPartland won Stevenage after an 8% swing from Labour to the Conservatives. | Conservative Stephen McPartland won Stevenage after an 8% swing from Labour to the Conservatives. |
| In another Conservative win from Labour, Richard Harrington took Watford with 34% of the vote. He received 1,425 more votes than second-placed Liberal Democrat Sal Brinton. Labour came third, with Claire Ward taking 14,750 votes. | |
| Peter Lilley held Hitchin and Harpenden for the Conservatives with a swing of 6.8% from Labour. | Peter Lilley held Hitchin and Harpenden for the Conservatives with a swing of 6.8% from Labour. |
| In Bedford, there was a 5.5% swing from Labour to the Conservatives, with Tory Richard Fuller taking the seat with 17,546 votes. | In Bedford, there was a 5.5% swing from Labour to the Conservatives, with Tory Richard Fuller taking the seat with 17,546 votes. |
| Nadine Dorries retained the Mid Bedfordshire seat | Nadine Dorries retained the Mid Bedfordshire seat |
| Bedfordshire North East elected Conservative Alistair Burt with 30,989 votes. | Bedfordshire North East elected Conservative Alistair Burt with 30,989 votes. |
| Steven Baker held Wycombe for the Tories, taking 23,423 votes compared with Lib Dem Steve Guy's 13,863. | Steven Baker held Wycombe for the Tories, taking 23,423 votes compared with Lib Dem Steve Guy's 13,863. |
| The party has retained Broxbourne, Hertford and Stortford, Hertsmere, South West Bedfordshire, Chesham & Amersham and Hemel Hempstead. | The party has retained Broxbourne, Hertford and Stortford, Hertsmere, South West Bedfordshire, Chesham & Amersham and Hemel Hempstead. |
| They also held on to Aylesbury, Mid Bedfordshire and Welwyn Hatfield and Hertfordshire North East, Hertfordshire South West and St Albans. | They also held on to Aylesbury, Mid Bedfordshire and Welwyn Hatfield and Hertfordshire North East, Hertfordshire South West and St Albans. |
| Charles Walker took Broxbourne, with the seat seeing a swing of 6.43% from Labour to the Conservatives. | Charles Walker took Broxbourne, with the seat seeing a swing of 6.43% from Labour to the Conservatives. |
| Mark Prisk held Hertford and Stortford with 53.8% of the vote. | Mark Prisk held Hertford and Stortford with 53.8% of the vote. |
| In Hertsmere, Conservative James Clappison received 26,476 votes, with Labour's Sam Russell polling 8,871 and Lib Dem Anthony Rowlands 8,210. | In Hertsmere, Conservative James Clappison received 26,476 votes, with Labour's Sam Russell polling 8,871 and Lib Dem Anthony Rowlands 8,210. |
| Conservative Andrew Selous was re-elected to the South West Bedfordshire seat with 26,815 votes, a majority of 8,277 over Labour. There was a swing from Labour to the Conservatives of 7.6%. | Conservative Andrew Selous was re-elected to the South West Bedfordshire seat with 26,815 votes, a majority of 8,277 over Labour. There was a swing from Labour to the Conservatives of 7.6%. |
| Conservative shadow Welsh Secretary Cheryl Gillan won Chesham and Amersham with 60.37% of the vote. | |
| Shadow housing minister | Shadow housing minister |
| In Hemel Hempstead, Tory Mike Penning received 24,721 votes, with Liberal Democrat Richard Grayson on 11,315 and Labour's Ayfer Orhan taking 10,295 votes. | In Hemel Hempstead, Tory Mike Penning received 24,721 votes, with Liberal Democrat Richard Grayson on 11,315 and Labour's Ayfer Orhan taking 10,295 votes. |
| Conservative David Lidington was victorious in Aylesbury, and in Mid Bedfordshire, Nadine Dorries won for the Tories with 28,815 votes. | Conservative David Lidington was victorious in Aylesbury, and in Mid Bedfordshire, Nadine Dorries won for the Tories with 28,815 votes. |
| Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps held Welwyn Hatfield, taking 27,894 votes, with second place Mike Hobday taking 10,471 votes for Labour. | Shadow housing minister Grant Shapps held Welwyn Hatfield, taking 27,894 votes, with second place Mike Hobday taking 10,471 votes for Labour. |
| Conservative Oliver Heald held Hertfordshire North East and David Gauke held Hertfordshire South West for the Tories. | Conservative Oliver Heald held Hertfordshire North East and David Gauke held Hertfordshire South West for the Tories. |
| The Tories also held St Albans, with Anne Main receiving 21,533 votes and Liberal Democrat Sandy Walkington getting 19,228. | The Tories also held St Albans, with Anne Main receiving 21,533 votes and Liberal Democrat Sandy Walkington getting 19,228. |
| The seat of Buckingham, where there are 11 candidates standing, is expected to declare on Friday afternoon. | The seat of Buckingham, where there are 11 candidates standing, is expected to declare on Friday afternoon. |