Defeated Malik refuses to rule out return

Mr Malik was one of the highest profile casualties of the campaign after being defeated by barrister Simon Reevell, who wiped out the Labour majority of 4,615, establishing a lead of 1,526 votes.

The former Communities Secretary blamed massive boundary changes for the defeat, and said the wards of Dewsbury itself were still "solid Shahid Malik and Labour territory".

He said: "Life goes on but obviously I am very disappointed, it was an amazing campaign.

"I increased my vote by 2,000 but ultimately severe boundary changes that brought in 26 Tory villages was a mountain that was too high to climb.

"It is too early to say what I am going to do, I got into politics to help change society for the better, I will continue to try and do that."

The 42-year-old, one of the first British-born Muslims to be elected to Parliament, said he was still young enough to come back.

He said: "At this stage it would be foolish of me to make decision on my future, I have already had two job offers on the table.

"I was not in politics for the money, it was the satisfaction of changing things for the better. I am not at the end of my product life yet, I am still young.

Mr Malik added: "The people are the master in a democracy, I humbly accept their decision – they have spoken, I have listened."

The boundary changes saw the Labour-supporting town of Heckmondwike taken away and replaced with the traditionally Conservative Denby Dale and Kirkburton.

Mr Reevell, 43, who is chairman of the Beverley and Holderness Conservative Association, said voters had responded to his positive campaign.

He said: "It's an amazing feeling.

"We all started with the same boundaries, it was more about showing the people of this constituency what we were about and they liked what we were saying."