CONSERVATIVE Julian Brazier cruised to a comfortable victory - taking the Canterbury and Whitstable seat by more than 7,000 votes.

The sitting MP polled 21,113 votes, increasing his majority by more than 5,000 on his showing at the last General Election four years ago.

Labour’s Alex Hilton came second with 13,640 votes while the Liberal Democrats finished third with 10,059.

Moments after his victory, a jubilant Mr Brazier said: "I am delighted, this really is a very pleasing result. I am humbled and I very honoured to have been given this opportunity to continue to represent the people of Canterbury and Whitstable again.

"It is clear that the people have had enough of Tony Blair and that they are now beginning to take Conservative ideas seriously. What people want is decent schools and hospitals, lower taxes and controlled immigration."

Mr Brazier, who has represented the constituency since 1987, ended his victory speech by thanking his opponents and his party activists.

Mr Hilton said it had been an hard night for the Labour Party nationally, adding: "It’s one we are going to have to learn from.

"I can’t tell you how much I have fallen in love with Canterbury and Whitstable since I have been here in the last year - this breaks my heart."

Lib Dem candidate Jenny Barnard-Langston said elections in the UK would never present an accurate picture of the political mood of the nation until proportional representation was introduced.

She said: "We have had a good clean fight here but the problem we have is the first past the post system.

"I don’t want to take anything away from Julian Brazier, but until we get proportional representation, people will not be able to make themselves properly heard."

The turnout for Canterbury and Whitstable was 66.69 per cent - up five per cent on 2001.