Every other seat in Kent stays the same

Despite Labour’s shock win in Canterbury, the Tories dominated Kent, winning every other seat in the county.

In South Thanet Conservative candidate Craig Mackinlay, who is facing a charge of election fraud, increased his majority to well over 6,000. His victory was helped by a collapse in the Ukip vote, heralded in last month’s KCC elections, and the absence of Nigel Farage who fought the constituency in 2015 and came second.

In neighbouring North Thanet Sir Roger Gale won his ninth election gaining 56% of the vote and comfortable beating Labour’s Frances Rehal, although her party did see a 16% rise in support in two years. In Dover, which had been predicted in a Kentonline poll as being the closest in Kent, Tory Charlie Elphicke increased his share of the vote by 9.1%.

Damian Green in Ashford enjoyed an 18,000 majority and was rewarded for his loyalty to the prime minister with a cabinet promotion to First Secretary of State.

All three Tory candidates were re-elected at Medway where police are investigating claims that the Gillingham and Rainham MP Rehman Chishti was racially abused during his victory speech.

Picture: Tony Flashman FM4804025 Sir Roger Gale and Craig Mackinlay