REDBRIDGE: Tory MP re-elected with increased majority in Ilford North (From East London and West Essex Guardian Series)

REDBRIDGE: Tory MP re-elected with increased majority in Ilford North

6:33am Friday 7th May 2010 in News By Sam Adams

TORY MP Lee Scott has been re-elected with an increased majority in Ilford North.

Mr Scott's constituency was number 28 on Labour's target list of seats nationwide but he expanded his lead to a healthy 5,404 on a swing of 3.7 per cent from Labour to the Conservatives when the result was announced this morning (Thursday).

Speaking to the Guardian immediately after his victory the newly re-elected MP told of his joy at being given a second term in office.

He said: "This is special.

"It was a tough campaign for a number of reasons, but that's behind us now.

"I am looking forward to getting down to addressing the problems that face Ilford North, including fighting for the future of King George Hospital.

"I will also do my best to help bring regeneration to the constituency, new business and new opportunities.

"I love my job with a passion and I'm so grateful that voters have responded to the work I have done over the past five years by re-electing me.

"I have achieved a much bigger majority this time, which is brilliant.

"I'm going to have some sleep now and then come back tomorrow to support my Conservative colleagues at the count for the council elections."

Mr Scott's closest challenger, Labour candidate Sonia Klein - who received 16,102 votes - was unavailable for comment at the time of writing.

Rev Roger Hampson, of Holy Trinity church in South Woodford, said he was 'reasonably happy' after winning 456 votes for the Christian People's Alliance.

He said: "I had no real expectations going into this.

"Obviously I would have preferred to get 56,000 votes but it was a good showing I thought, bearing in mind that it was something that I had never done before.

"There was a very good atmosphere at the count."

When asked whether he would consider running again at the next election Rev Hampson said: "I will have to sleep on that.

"I've met lots of people through this, and learned a lot about Ilford North in the process.

"It's been a good experience."

The results for Ilford North in full were as follows:

Lee Scott (Conservative): 21,506

Sonia Klein (Labour): 16,102

Caroline Allen (Green): 572

Alex Berhanu (Lib Dems): 5,966

Danny Warville (BNP): 1,545

Henri Van Der Stighelen (UKIP): 871