Labour lose Morecambe and Lunesdale

Morris hugged his supporters and looked shell-shocked after claiming a slim majority of 866 over Labour’s Geraldine Smith who had previously held the seat for 13 years.

The Conservatives won 18,035 votes, Labour took 17,169, the Liberal Democrats won 5,791 votes, UKIP won 1,843 and the Green party won 598.

Speaking after the announcement Mr Morris was seen to say to his Labour opponent: “I’m sorry. It was so close.”

Speaking to the crowds he said: “I would like to thank the people of Morecambe and Lunesdale for placing their faith in me for change.

“We will have sunshine in Morecambe and Lunesdale again.”

Mrs Smith put on a brave face and congratulated her Tory opponent expressing a degree of relief after her long-stint as MP.

She said: “It has been a real privilege and a pleasure to represent Morecambe and Lunesdale.

“I really do hope David succeeds in his job as MP because if he is successful Morecambe will be successful. It’s my home and I want it to do well.”

Morris takes the seat after 13 years of Labour rule - which saw virtually no swing for any other party.

Though she was expected to hang onto the seat, Smith faced stiff competition from Morris – a hairdresser and former songwriter for Stock, Aitken, Waterman.

After a couple of false starts here today the counting began in earnest at 1pm.

There was almost silence in the huge sports hall with only a low hum and the rustling of ballot papers to be heard.

Yesterday 43,512 voters from across the constituency including Carnforth, Silverdale, Warton and the Yealands turned out to polling stations to cast their votes. This was a 62.53 per cent turnout.

As a former Labour stronghold the constituency was a target seat for the Conservatives but there were unexpected developments with the Liberal Democrats and the Green Party receiving a warm response from voters.

Though Liberal Democrat Leslie Jones looked increasingly deflated as the day wore on he said he would fight again.

“We received a great response on our campaign trail but unfortunately that hasn’t translated into votes,” he said. “I am disappointed but we will fight again.”

Despite his loss the Green Party’s Chris Coates said he was “elated” that his party had taken its first national seat.

He said: “We never expected to win but I was surprised at the huge amount of support that I got. We have established a real presence here.”

UKIP candidate Mark Knight who arrived late to the count said he believed people may have voted tactically.

He said: “We only did about 50 per cent of the work I would have liked to have put in.

"We had a good response from people on the campaign trail and it is obvious that voters want change.”

David Morris: key aims

The former hairdresser said he will continue with the fight to re-open the West Coast Main Line at Carnforth Station to link the railway town to Kendal and the Lake District.

Mr Morris, 44, will also be starting a campaign to transform the former cotton port of Sunderland Point into a world heritage site.

He said he will continue with the work of his predecessor Geraldine Smith in the regeneration of Morecambe and aims to give a boost to small businesses.

“Being a former small businessman myself I would like to see red tape stripped away and for small businesses to receive further support from the banks,” he said “There is not one business, whether it’s farming, service and retail or manufacturing that hasn’t been put back by the recession.”

David Morris: the CV

> Was educated at Lowton School, near Wigan, and has been self-employed since the age of 19 working in commercial properties and as a hairdresser in Manchester.

> Was a former songwriter with the pop hit making team Stock, Aitken, Waterman during the 1980s.

> Joined the Conservative Party aged 26 after being inspired by John Major.

> Stood unsuccessfully as the Conservative candidate for Blackpool South in 2001 and in Pembrokeshire in 2005.

> He has two children from a previous marriage - Robert, seven and Thomas, 15.