Kent turns blue as Tories take control of the county after election

KENT turned completely blue Thursday night as the Conservatives took and held seats around the county.

Labour lost seats in both Dover and South Thanet, with Tory Laura Sandys displacing former minister Steve Ladyman in Thanet and Charlie Elphicke taking Dover from Gwyn Prosser.

Election count

Elsewhere in east Kent Julian Brazier held Canterbury, Roger Gale extended his majority in North Thanet and Damien Green increased his vote in Ashford.

New Conservative candidate Damian Collins took Michael Howard's old seat of Folkestone and Hythe.

Faversham and Mid-Kent was also a Conservative hold, with Hugh Robertson winning by a huge majority.

Sittingbourne and Sheppey was one of those gained by the Tories, Gordon Henderson winning by more than 12,000 votes.

In Medway, another former Labour minister, Jonathan Shaw, lost his Chatham and Aylesford seat to Conservative Tracey Crouch.

Gillingham and Rainham and Rochester and Strood were also Tory scalps.

In West Kent, candidates Helen Grant, Greg Clark and Michael Fallon kept Maidstone Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks for the Conservatives respectively, Adam Holloway held Gravesham and Gareth Johnson kept hold of Dartford for the Tories.

Tory John Stanley won in Tonbridge and Malling.

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