General Election 2019: Neil O'Brien re-elected for Harborough

Mr O’Brien said he was “honoured and humbled” as his crushing victory mirrored the stunning national Tory landslide.

He stretched his majority by almost 5000 votes to 17,278.

Mr O’Brien, 41, polled 31,698 votes as the result was announced at Parklands Leisure Centre in Oadby at 3.45am.

Labour’s Celia Hibbert trailed in second on 14,420 votes while Liberal Democrat Zuffar Haq attracted 9103 votes.

The Green Party’s Darren Woodiwiss got 1709 votes and Independent Robin Lambert brought up the rear with 389 votes.

Mr O’Brien told cheering supporters as he held on to the Harborough seat on Friday the 13th: “I’d like to thank all the counting agents and staff here tonight who make democracy work.

“I’d also like to thank my campaign team.

“My biggest thanks are to the electorate.

“I am honoured and humbled to be re-elected as MP for Harborough with more votes and an increased majority from 2017.”

He added after the first December general election since 1923: “It’s been a great night for the Conservatives both here locally and nationally.

“Now I want to get on and do more work on such huge local issues as the NHS, sentencing and planning reform.

“I’d also like to thank my family who have been incredibly supportive.”