by Alan Quick

CONSERVATIVE Mel Stride was returned as the MP for Central Devon for a third term at the election count held at Parklands Leisure Centre at Okehampton earlier this morning, Friday, June 9.

Acting Returning Officer Steve Jorden announced the results just before 5am: Mel Stride (Conservative) 31,278, Lisa Robillard Webb (Labour) 15,598, Alex White (Liberal Democrat) 6,770, Andy Williamson (Green) 1,531, Tim Matthews (UKIP) 1,326, John Dean (National Health Action) 871, Lloyd Knight (Liberal) 470.

The turnout was high at 77.9 per cent. There were 84 rejected ballot papers.

Mr Stride said: "What a huge honour and a privilege it is to have been re-elected as the Member of Parliament for our wonderful and very special constituency.

"I will continue to fight for our local communities and for all the communities in Central Devon and for all the constituents of Central Devon regardless of their political persuasion and I will continue to represent us in Parliament with vigour and drive and determination."

He thanked the returning officer, staff, police, and in particular his agent and friend Mike Knuckey who he said "has been very supportive over so many years" and his wife Michelle and their children for their support.

He thanked his opponents and said: "At a time when we have had the atrocities in Manchester and London and of course some little while ago the attack on the cradle of democracy, the Houses of Parliament themselves that it is a great tribute to all of us standing in this election and to all candidates up and down the country that we carried on democracy regardless and I think that is a very special and a very beautiful thing. Thank you very much."

This morning Tim Matthews, the UKIP candidate, declared that he was standing down as a UKIP member because he was a "natural conservative" and was joining the Conservative Party.

He said that UKIP had "veered into extremism and racism".