Deal councillor Julie Rook achieved a nine per cent swing for the Conservatives in the General Election, but failed to take the Wolverhampton North East seat by less than 2,500 votes.

Mrs Rook, who is a member of Dover District and Kent County Councils, was fighting to overturn a Labour majority of 8,156.

She was up against Labour's Emma Reynolds, a former adviser to Geoff Hoon and Robin Cook, who polled 14,448 votes while Mrs Rook received 11,964, giving Labour a majority of 2,484. This was a 13.3 per cent reduction in the Labour vote and a 4.7 per cent increase in the Conservative vote.

It was Mrs Rook's first attempt to become an MP. It is understood she had been among the contenders to be the Conservative candidate in Dover and Deal, but was turned down by the selection panel, in favour of Charlie Elphicke.

The full Wolverhampton North East result was:

Emma Reynolds (Lab) 14,448

Julie Rook (Cons) 11,964

Colin Ross (Lib Dem) 4,711

Simon Patten (BNP) 2,296

Paul Valdmanis (UKIP) 1,138

Shangara Bhatoe (Socialist Labour) 337.

The turnout was 58.8 per cent.