The newly re-elected Conservative MP for Mole Valley has welcomed the opportunity to "return Britain to being Great Britain”.

Sir Paul Beresford, who has been MP in the constituency since 1997, was re-elected in the early hours of this morning.

Liberal Democrats came second followed by UKIP then Labour and finally the Greens.

Surrey Comet:

With the Tories on course for victory in this election, Sir Paul said just after 5am that he hoped there was the possibility of a “real Conservative Government” at the helm.

He said: “We have a real opportunity to return Britain to being Great Britain. The opportunity to keep straightening this country out has got to be grabbed. I believe only the Conservatives can do it.”

His traditional Tory seat has proved once again to be safe while the landslide victory of the SNP in Scotland has hit Labour badly. Sir Paul got 33,434 votes in this election. 

He stood for re-election against Liberal Democrat Paul Kennedy, Labour’s Len Amos, the Green’s Jacquetta Fewster and UKIP’s Paul Oakley.

Surrey Comet:

Greens celebrated their share of the vote in the early hours of this morning. Ms Fewster said they got 5.4% of the vote, "and more than three times the number Greens polled in 2010".  

At just after 5am this morning, Sir Paul said by phone that it was important to keep reducing the deficit and improving people’s quality of life.

Closer to home, Mr Beresford pledged continue his fight to save the greenbelt in Mole Valley and block plans for a second runway at Gatwick Airport.

Sir Paul previously served as the leader of Wandsworth Council for a decade and was knighted for his services to inner city rehabilitation in 1990.

The dentist, who lives in Bookham, was MP for Croydon Central from 1992 until 1997, when its boundaries were redrawn and he won in Mole Valley instead.

 

Mole Valley results - 

  • Paul Beresford, Conservative Party - 33,434 - 60.6%
  • Paul Kennedy, Liberal Democrats - 7,981 - 14.5%
  • Paul Oakley, UKIP - 6,181 - 11.2%
  • Len Amos, Labour - 4,565 - 8.3%
  • Jacquetta Fewster, the Greens - 2,979 - 5.4%

Ballot Papers Verified: 55,140

Turnout: 55, 332

Surrey Comet:

Surrey Comet: