Third time lucky for Gordon Henderson

Conservative Gordon Henderson has won the Sittingbourne and Sheppey seat with a huge majority.

The 62-year-old got 24,313 votes, beating Labour's Angela Harrison who got 11,930.

It is third time lucky for Mr Henderson, who stood for the Luton South seat in 2001.

In 2005 he stood for the Sittingbourne and Sheppey seat, which he lost to Derek Wyatt by just 79 votes - the lowest majority in Kent and the third lowest in the country.

Keith Nevols for the Liberal Democrats got 7,943 votes, Ian Davison of UKIP 2,610, BNP's Lawrence Tames got 1,305, Mad Mike Young for the Monster Raving Loony William Hill Party got 319 votes and David Cassidy, an Independent, got 158.

Mad Mike and his party of loonies brightened up the count, which took place at Swallows Leisure Centre in Sittingbourne, handing out bananas and million pound notes to everyone.

The results were declared at 4.03am this morning.

Mr Henderson said: "I think that the majority says it all - I would like to think it reflects the work we have put in in the community over the last 10 years.

"I'm delighted for my team and I'm delighted that the people of Sittingbourne and Sheppey have put their trust in me. I will not let my community down."

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