Labour strong across the region

Labour enjoyed success across the North East as the election results came in.

In South Tyneside, Emma Lewell-Buck and Stephen Hepburn were returned as MPs for South Shields and Jarrow respectively.

Emma Lewell-Buck saw her majority rise from 10,614 in 2015 to 14,508 in 2017.

She said: “The feedback I got from people, I knew there would be a similar vote, but I had no idea my majority would increase.

“I feel very emotional and I feel overwhelmed.

“There’s no greater feeling than people saying we want you to continue to do the job you’ve been doing and it means I’ve been doing something right.”

And Stephen Hepburn was returned with a majority of 17,263, an increase from 13,881 in 2015.

He said: He added: “The increased majority is people voting and driven by mindless austerity.

“The second message is the importance of young people coming out because for the first time a political party has given young people a futures.”

It was a similar story in Hartlepool, where Mike Hill won the town’s seat with a majority of 7,650. Labour’s share of the vote rose by 16.9% while, in contrast, UKIP saw its support fall by 16.5%.

Newcastle’s three seats were all won by Labour, as were Gateshead, Blaydon, Durham North, Bishop Auckland, Tynemouth and Tyneside North.

Labour took a Conservative scalp in Stockton South, where Paul Williams defeated James Wharton.

There were also wins in Middlesbrough, Darlington and Stockton North.