Conservative MP Damian Collins has retained his seat in Folkestone and Hythe with a resounding victory.

Mr Collins defeated seven other candidates competing for the constituency in the first December General Election since 1923.

The incumbent MP received 35,483 votes, granting him a majority of 21,337 over second placed Laura Davison of Labour.

The full results of the election are as follows:

Bishop, Simon James (Lib Dem): 5,755,

Bolton, Henry David (Ind): 576

Collins, Damian (Con): 35,483

Davison, Laura Frances (Lab): 14,146

Kapur, Rohen (YPP): 80

Menniss, Colin John (SDP): 190

Thomas, Andy (SPGB): 69

Treloar, Georgina Sarah (Grn): 2,706

Spoilt Ballots: 260

'There is a clear mandate here...'- Damian Collins

Mr Collins said: "I am delighted, this is the fourth election in a row that I have been elected, and it is the largest majority that we have had in that time.

"There is a clear mandate here to get Brexit done, and I will take that to Westminster to support Boris Johnson's deal."

Second placed Ms Davison said: "It has been a privilege to campaign for Labour.

"Going around and canvassing, meeting people, I feel it has really brought me together with the constituency."

The turnout in the constituency was recorded at 67%, a respectable figure but slightly down on the 68% that turned out in 2017.

On the counting floor, Green party candidate Georgina Treloar said that she felt her team's campaign was "extremely positive".

She said: "I really feel like the party as a whole has got our message out, but unfortunately the nation is locked in a terrible battle."

Colin Menniss of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) said that this campaign was about re-introudcing the party into voter's minds.

"We're only standing 20-odd candidates this election", he said, "And this has certainly been a learning curve for me."

Independent Henry Bolton spoke about the results coming in around the country, which are currently suggesting a Tory majority of up to 86.

He said: "I am very pleased to see that this majority will ensure that Brexit will be carried out.

"Having said that, I am not absolutely sure that I trust the current party, not even with the members that could come in, to properly negotiate with the EU."

Follow our live blog for details on the results across Kent as they come in.

To see who was elected in Folkestone and Hythe in 2017, click here.

For all other General Election news, click here.

Read more: All the latest news from Folkestone

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