THE Tories kept hold of Castle Point, as Rebecca Harris gained a huge 33,971 votes at the polls.

She beat Labour’s Katie Curtis who secured 7,337 votes and John Howson from the Liberal Democrats with 2,969.

Mrs Harris said it was a good result.

She said: “It was a strong message from the voters who were backing our prime minister Boris Johnson and his plans for getting Brexit done.

“The voters were telling me on the doorsteps they were supporting Boris’ strong message.

“I gained much more support than I had expected and people were positive when I was out on the campaign trail.

“They were telling me they’ve had enough and want to get Brexit done so we can focus on other issues.“It’s a fantastic honour to be reelected, I love my borough and working for the constituents in it.”

The Tories wiped out competition across south Essex in all constituencies.

Sir David Amess will be applying for Deputy Speaker of the House of Commons following his win in Southend West.

In Rochford and Southend East, James Duddridge won his biggest ever majority.

Basildon saw Stephen Metcalfe and John Baron comfortably hold their seats by thousands of votes.

Mark Francois arrived minutes before the announcement that he had secured his seat at Rayleigh and Wickford.

In Thurrock, Jackie Doyle-Price increased her majority from hundreds of votes to 11,000.

Katie Curtis, Labour candidate for Castle Point, said: “It was always going to be an uphill battle.

“Castle Point is safe Tory territory but what made it tougher was the exit poll.

“I am pleased the Labour vote didn’t completely collapse in the area.

“I think the result in Castle Point and the whole of the country shows the Labour Party must change and look at who is leading it.”

The latest Tory win, marks Mrs Harris’ fourth consecutive year as MP for Castle Point after she regained the seat for the Tories in 2010 and her majority increased with each election.

One of the key issues for the area was Brexit, with 72 per cent of Castle Point residents voting in favour of leaving the European Union.

Ms Harris has been a staunch supporter of Brexit, believing that the UK should leave so that it has greater control over its own laws. In October she voted in favour of PM Boris Johnson’s withdrawal deal which he says would take the UK out of the EU by January 31.

In all but one election, it has been won by a Conservative candidate, passing to Labour once, in the 1997 election. The former MP defeated in 1997, Bob Spink, regained the seat in 2001.

He was re-elected in 2005 but subsequently resigned from the Conservative Party on 22 April 2008.

The constituency turn out was 64.07 per cent.