HARWICH and North Essex resoundingly backed its long-serving MP who secured nearly three times the vote of his nearest rival.

Sir Bernard Jenkin, who was first elected to serve to Parliament in 1992, secured more than 30,000 votes, with second place Labour more than 20,000 behind.

The ardent Brexiteer and ERG member also increased his majority by around 5,000 votes, mirroring the impressive performance of Conservative candidates across the country.

He praised Boris Johnson for securing a sizeable majority for the Tories and thanked the voters for showing their faith in him.

Sir Bernard said: “It is astonishing and I humbled but whether the voters have supported me or not I will represent every voter as best I can.”

He said he would push for investment in jobs and the economy of Harwich as well as improvements to things like the A120, A12 and the railway crossing at Manningtree station.

“We need to see investment in the NHS and in general practice, which has been neglected for some time,” he said.

“We in particular need new surgeries in Mersea and Lawford.

“Nationally I want to see us as a Government address the problem with Universal Credit which leaves a gap between leaving the old benefit system and joining the new one.

“And a big priority should be the environment. We need to bring forward the target of 2050 to achieve carbon neutrality earlier.”

Sir Bernard said the Conservatives’ majority would allow them to get past the “paralysis” in Parliament and make a success of Brexit.

“This election has given Boris a very big mandate to deliver Brexit.

“Brexit has been the mission in our manifesto and in every interview he has said about getting Brexit done.”

But he warned the Conservative Party would have to adapt quickly to new challenges after taking several traditionally working class Labour seats in the north of England.

“This gives us a big responsibility,” he said.

“We have to deliver for these communities.”

Brexit he said, was the defining issue of the campaign.

“After the referendum everyone seemed to accept the result and people want to get past the division,” Sir Bernard said.

“I think it will prove to be very good for this country, not for trade, but it will raise this country’s morale and self confidence that we can organise ourselves.

Harwich and North Essex includes swathes of the Colchester borough, including Mersea, West Bergholt and Rowhedge.

Green party candidate Peter Banks said he had done well on Mersea where he lives but bemoaned tactical voting and an unfair voting system.

He said: “The Green Party is not on the extreme left or the extreme right or blue or red.

“We were affected by the prevalence of tactical voting and I see that as the abject failure of the First Past the Post voting system.”

He added: “I do think people want to vote Green. For some people the other parties do not reflect their views.”

Lib Dem Mike Beckett said he had noticed a lot of dissatisfaction on the doorsteps but he hinted he might stand again as part of a “two election strategy”.

The Colchester Foodbank manager said: “We worked hard and I think we did well.

“If things were working I would have carried on in the charity sector but it was because of the suffering I saw I decided I could not stand at the side any more.

“If there is another General Election in three months or five years, whatever it is, and I think that is still out there, I would consider standing.”

Independent candidate Richard Browning-Smith said being involved in politics was “great fun” despite losing his deposit.

He said: “I got involved because I was so annoyed with the state of politics and politicians did not seem to be getting anywhere.

“I wanted to be on the ballot in order to do my bit.”

Mr Browning-Smith said Brexit was dividing the country and said he had been “grabbed by the ears” in a pub during the campaign.

Gracious in defeat, he welcomed Bernard Jenkin’s re-election and the Conservatives majority.

“I have more faith in the Tories than Labour,” he said.

The second independent candidate Tony Francis said it had been a difficult experience putting himself on a pedestal.

Mr Francis, who also lost his deposit, said: “My campaign was unique because I represent the 20,000 people who do not vote in the constituency.

“People said to me some aspects of my approach would lose me votes but to me it is principles before votes.”

Labour candidate Stephen Rice, who was Sir Bernard’s nearest challenger only turned up just before the results were announced.

Full results:

Bernard Jenkin (Con) - 31,830

Stephen Rice (Lab) - 11,648

Mike Beckett (Lib Dem) - 5,866

Peter Banks (Green) - 1,945

Tony Francis (Ind) - 411

Richard Browning Smith (Ind) - 263

Turn out: 70.5%