TONY Blair claimed a record-breaking General Election victory today.
He headed back to No 10 for an historic third term in power - but with a reduced majority of 70 after 580 results.
He became the first Labour leader to win three contests in a row and promised to learn the lessons of the signal voters had sent by curbing his command of the Commons.
The Conservatives claimed some notable scalps, but the Liberal Democrats did not make significant inroads.
Locally, it was very much a case of `as you were'.
All six constituencies covering the Huddersfield area were held by Labour.
Barry Sheerman was a comfortable winner in Huddersfield, while Colne Valley's Kali Mountford saw her majority reduced to 1,501.
Mr Blair told party workers at Trimdon Labour Club in his Sedgefield constituency: "I know there are lots of lessons to learn, but I do feel very proud of the fact that we have managed that historic third term victory."
He added: "To be re-elected for a third time is very special, so it's a tremendous privilege and an honour."
The Prime Minister added: "I know Iraq has been a divisive issue in this country, but I hope we can now unite again and look to the future."
To cheers and applause, he added: "It seems as if it is clear that the British people wanted the return of a Labour Government, but with a reduced majority.
"We have to respond to that sensibly, wisely and responsibly."
Polls predicted a Labour majority of less than 100 - down from the 161 Labour enjoyed in the last parliament.
The Conservatives began to regain some of the ground lost in the past two elections, and the Liberal Democrats claimed a handful of victories.
THE British National Party attracted a significant though relatively small number of votes.
The far-right party put up candidates for nearly 120 seats with a particular concentration in the West Midlands and Yorkshire and Humberside.
And in Kirklees there was strong backing for candidates, with Kirklees councillor David Exley polling more than 5,000 votes in Dewsbury.
In Huddersfield, 1,036 voters backed BNP candidate Karl Hanson - 48 hours after he appeared in court on drugs charges and a day after the party urged people not to back him. A number of those votes were expected to be postal votes.
