SUNAK STAYS AS MP AS LABOUR MAKE COUNTY GAINS

Rishi Sunak has held onto his North Yorkshire seat, avoiding becoming the first sitting prime minister to lose his place in Parliament.

While he was again voted in as Conservative MP for Richmond and Northallerton, he took the blame for the party's poor performance nationally.

Elsewhere, Labour gained two seats from the Tories, including Luke Charters taking over York Outer from Julian Sturdy after 14 years.

Speaking after the results were declared, he said voters in his new constituency knew it was "time for change".

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Mr Sturdy said his party’s defeat was the result of a split in the centre-right vote following Reform UK’s gains.

The outgoing MP said: “The winds of political change have swept through, Keir Starmer will get into Number 10 and the Conservatives have to recognise that.

“It’s important that we now have a strong opposition to take the country forward.”

Another Tory loss was a Liberal Democrat victory, with Tom Gordon voted in for Harrogate and Knaresborough.

The last time a Lib Dem represented the constituency was Phil Willis between 1997 and 2010.

Meanwhile, Conservative MP Kevin Hollinrake has kept hold of his seat in Thirsk and Malton, securing 19,544 votes.

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