The triumphant Tory MP for Reigate has thanked voters for bringing the country back from the brink of “potential disaster”.

Tories around Britain are celebrating the fact the Conservatives are set to have the largest number of MPs in the Commons.

With knife-edge polls in the run up to the election, MP Crispin Blunt said: “It appeared that we were looking at an impossible Government, which was going to be a potential disaster.

“The voters have called the country back from the brink and I’m grateful for the decision they made.”

In Reigate, Mr Blunt came in first with an increased majority while UKIP came second followed by Labour, the Liberal Democrats and the Greens.

He said: “I’m absolutely delighted with the result in Reigate and even more delighted with the result in the country.”

This year, he went head-to-head with Liberal Democrat Anna Tarrant, Labour Ali Aklakul, the Green's Jonathan Essex and UKIP candidate Joseph Fox.

Mr Essex said: "Very pleased to have saved our deposit - which is more than UKIP did in 2010. Would like to thank the huge increase in Green support in Reigate."

Reigate’s MP since 1997, Mr Blunt came out publicly as gay in 2010 and won a battle for re-selection as the Conservative parliamentary candidate for this election. 

As Prisons Minister until 2012 under the coalition Government, Mr Blunt managed the passage of an act that criminalised squatting. 

His agent Tim Hall, who sits on Surrey County Council, said: "It's a tremendous result. It shows all the work we have done in the constituency."

He said they will continue to campaign to protect the greenbelt, improve rail services and fight against the expansin of Gatwick Airport. 

The results for Reigate - 

  • Crispin Blunt (Con) - 29,151 votes - 57%
  • Joe Fox (UKIP) - 6,817 votes - 13.3%
  • Ali Aklakul (Lab) - 6,578 - 12.8%
  • Anna Tarrant (Lib Dem) - 5,369 - 10.5% 
  • Jonathan Essex (Green) 3,434 - 6.7% 

Surrey Comet:

Surrey Comet: