SCUNTHORPE, GRIMSBY AND CLEETHORPES: Veteran MP survives as Tories reap benefit of surge in support

Mr Vickers was successful in unseating the Labour incumbent Shona McIsaac after winning 18,939 votes, some 42.1 per cent of the total votes cast.

The long-serving Tory councillor was part of a strong surge to the Conservatives seen in the South Humberside area – with veteran Labour politician Austin Mitchell retaining his seat of Great Grimsby by just 714 votes.

Mr Mitchell said that the campaign in Grimsby had been overshadowed by the leaders' debates and the Gillian Duffy debacle, which he said had "alienated" many potential Labour voters.

"Campaigning locally was totally eclipsed by the presidential debates," he said. "I think that was all the politics that most people could stand and they were not so interested when it came to hearing from local candidates.

"The reaction was OK from voters. I think people recognised what the Labour Government has achieved and we faced a very good Conservative candidate who was the best I have ever faced."

In Scunthorpe, Labour managed to retain the seat despite the damage to former MP Elliot Morley, currently facing criminal charges over expenses. Replacement Nic Dakin survived a 9.2 per cent swing to the Tories to win.

"It has been a very difficult year for the Labour Party in Scunthorpe," he said.

"What has happened is that the local party has pulled together and we have worked hard to get our message out to people and really battle hard to connect and engage across the whole 65,000 electorate."