The pollsters were wrong when they predicted a close call in the Colne Valley.

Not only did Jason McCartney return to Parliament for a second term – he even increased his number of votes on 2010’s general election.

The Conservative MP won with 25,246 votes – 5,378 ahead of Labour’s Jane East on 19,868.

Mr McCartney, who said he’d campaigned every day for the last six weeks, said: “I’ve really enjoyed the campaign. I have a fantastic team.

“I love the area I represent, it’s a massive honour to represent it. To have more than 25,000 people put their faith in me is humbling.

“I’ve increased my vote by more than 5,000, increased the share and increased my majority which is brilliant.”

At one point in the campaign polls had said there was just 1% in it between Conservative and Labour.

But Mr McCartney was dignified in his response to Labour’s threat, adding: “Jane East and her team fought a really hard campaign and put everything into it. I wish her and her team well. The Colne Valley was a three-way marginal but now it’s a two-way marginal between the Conservatives and Labour with the smaller parties well behind.”

Moments after the result he called his parents and children and thanked his team. His win was so loudly supported during the announcement the vote was unheard in the count hall, but Mr McCartney was full of praise for his team, thanking them for their efforts.

Mr McCartney said he would resume community duties this weekend, attending Golcar Lily Day and Holmfirth Folk Festival.