Labour wins Kensington constituency for the first time EVER as last seat in General Election is finally declared
LABOUR has seized control of Kensington with just 20 votes after a third recount resulted in a major upset for the Tories.
Emma Dent Coad snatched the closely fought west London seat from the Conservatives in the final result to be declared in the 2017 General Election.
The vote count had been suspended until this evening after counting staff became “visibly tired”.
It took a third recount to get the result on Friday evening, with a break having been taken after two early-hours counts to allow staff to rest.
The west London seat, which has had its boundaries redrawn several times, had been in the hands of the Conservatives since its establishment in 1974.
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Defeated Tory incumbent Victoria Borwick had her 7,000 majority from 2015 overturned in a large swing to the opposition.
The shock result means that the Tories end the campaign with 318 seats to Labour's 262, eight shy of an overall majority.
After the declaration the Labour and Tory candidates hugged each other while Labour supporters cheered and applauded their new MP.
Ms Dent Coad thanked the Lib Dem candidate Annabel Mullin for "stealing some Tory votes and letting me through".
The Labour MP said she would focus on the area's problems, including air pollution and housing to overcome "unforgivable inequalities".
She said: "This constituency is a microcosm of everything that is wrong in this country after seven years of incompetent and uncaring coalition and Tory Government.
"I will do everything in my power in the next five years to make 'One Kensington' an example of the finest qualities of common humanity, mutual respect for all our communities and social justice to create a thoughtful, kind, co-operative and tolerant society where we can all prosper and thrive."
In her speech after the result, Lady Borwick, said: "I wish Emma every success, but please be assured, as far as I am concerned, tomorrow I start the fight back for Kensington and the Conservatives."
Theresa May has now apologised for the mauling at the polls which saw a dozen Tories lose their seats across the country.
She pledged to get to work delivering Brexit following a meeting with the Queen to form a new minority government.
But the PM admitted she needed the support of her “friends” in the DUP following her disastrous election gamble which left Britain with a hung Parliament.
Some of the key details from the turbulent election night:
- Hung parliament confirmed with Tories missing out on majority of 326
- Theresa May vows to stay on and form a Government with the help of the 10 DUP MPs
- But she faces mounting pressure from within her party – with the odds slashed on Boris Johnson to be the next PM
- Fears grow Brexit negotiations could be sunk or delayed after the shock result
- Lib Dem leader Tim Farron clings on despite only making modest gains
- Ex -Deputy PM Nick Clegg loses Sheffield Hallam seat but Vince Cable regains Twickenham
- Home Secretary Amber Rudd holds on to Hastings seat by barely 300 votes
- Huge losses for SNP as former chief Alex Salmond and deputy leader Angus Robertson are both beaten by the Tories.
- Labour on march in London beating Tories to Battersea constituency but Tory Zac Goldsmith takes back Richmond with a majority of just 45
- Pound slides two per cent as exit poll predicts hung parliament
- Ukip voters desert party with vote share down by ten per cent
- Growing fears that Mrs May will have to call a second election later this year
- Jeremy Corbyn claims he won the election after making significant gains across the country
- Downing Street has confirmed that the cabinet hitters WILL keep their jobs
- In the last seat to be declared, Labour's Emma Dent Coad seized Kensington from the Tories, giving the Conservatives 318 seats and Jeremy Corbyn's party 262
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