Sir John Stanley wins Tonbridge and Malling yet again

Tonbridge and Malling remains deep blue with voters electing Sir John Stanley for the 10th time.

Sir John increased his majority by 4,836, going from a majority of 13,352 in 2005 to 18,178.

The 68-year-old, first elected in 1974,who has held three cabinet positions in the past including defence and housing minister, said the gains coming the Tories' way all night made it "very difficult to see how Gordon Brown could continue as leader".

He added: "It is certainly looking like the Labour party have suffered a very serious defeat.

"I hope for the country's sake, I deeply hope the Conservatives do get an overall majority.

"All the history of coalitions is that they do not work and I remember the Lib-Lab pact of the seventies and when the Liberals got worked up about it becoming unpopular and just pulled out, creating huge instability.

"That is not what you need when the country is in a serious financial situation."

Mr Stanley said his main priority for the Tonbridge and Malling area was to fight for a re-instatement of train services along the Maidstone East line into the City Of London.

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