The new MP representing a considerable part of south Cumbria has shared her initial thoughts on her triumph.

Labour's Lizzi Collinge defeated the incumbent David Morris (Conservatives) by nearly 6,000 votes at the General Election on Thursday (July 4).

Read more: General Election: Meet the six MPs representing Cumbria | The Westmorland Gazette

The results announced on Friday morning saw Mrs Collinge earn 19,603 with Mr Morris seeing 14 years of service come to an end with 13,788 votes.

The Reform candidate Barry Parsons received 7,810 votes whilst Peter Jackson (Liberal Democrats) and Gina Dowding (Green) earned 4,769 and 2,089 votes respectively.

Following the boundary changes, the Morecambe and Lunesdale constituency will now play a key role for people living in south Cumbria.

Besides covering a large part of Lancaster and north Lancashire, the seat now represents areas such as Kendal South, the Kent Estuary, Levens and Crooklands, Burton and Holme, Sedbergh, and Kirkby Lonsdale.

Speaking in the wake of her election victory, Lizzi admitted she was 'absolutely exhausted' following the night of drama but that she was also 'elated' at being chosen by the constituency.

"I'm very grateful to all the Westmorland voters who have stuck by Labour despite the changes in boundary, and those who have also moved to Labour since the last election," she said.

"Having watched Keir [Starmer, Britain's new Prime Minister] give his first speech, I feel like the country can be proud again."

Lizzi explained she took an unorthodox approach to election night being 'very disciplined' and getting to sleep straight after the first exit polls were released at 10pm.

"My husband phoned me at 3am telling me that I should get down to the count and that's when we started to realise what we've achieved," she said.

The new MP shared that the boundary changes to include parts of Cumbria made Labour's work 'more difficult' but that, now that the initial hard work is done, she could not wait to repay the faith shown in her.

Lizzi added: "It's a very large and diverse area so it's up to me to represent the whole constituency, and that's something I'm really focused on doing.

"The first thing to do - after having a meal with my kids - is to set up a constituency office so that I can start representing the people of Morecambe and Lunesdale."