RE-ELECTED MP for Central Devon Mel Stride has thanked his constituents for their faith in him after they returned him to Parliament for a fourth term.

Mr Stride, whose share of the vote has increased in each General Election he has fought since entering Parliament in 2010, received 32,095 votes, ahead of Labour’s Lisa Robillard Webb on 14,374, a majority of 17,721.

Mr Stride said: “I am very grateful to everyone who came out to vote for me and indeed for everyone who voted. The best way to preserve our democracy is to participate in it and I am encouraged that turnout in Central Devon was 77.5 per cent - 10 per cent higher than the national average.”

Councillor Mike Davies, Chairman of the Central Devon Conservative Association, said: “Mel has been an incredibly hard-working and effective MP and his comprehensive win couldn’t be a clearer sign of the electorate in Central Devon wanting both Conservative representation locally and a Conservative Government nationally.”

Mr Stride has set out his priorities for the next term which will include raising wages and lowering the tax burden for the lowest paid workers, ensuring the Government delivers on its promise of more education funding for Devon, tackling climate change and supporting our small businesses.

He says he will also work hard to preserve local healthcare provision, to secure the best possible Brexit deal for our farmers, to maintain our rural Post Office network, to increase superfast broadband coverage in Central Devon and make sure Devon and Cornwall Police receive their fair share of increase national expenditure on policing.

Liberal Democrat Alison Eden received 8,770 votes and Green Andy Williamson 2,833. Mr Williamson lost his £500 deposit after failing to win five per cent of the vote.

Voter turnout was down 0.3 per cent points since the last general election.

It was the first December general election since 1923.