A sanguine Mark Reckless says he will take time to reflect following his heavy defeat in yesterday's general election.

Just six months earlier he had beaten Tory rival Kelly Tolhurst in a by-election following his defection to Ukip. He had won the Rochester and Strood seat at the third time of asking in 2010 with a 10,000 majority. But his 2,900-majority win last year was overturned with a big swing back to the Conservatives.

Whether or not he will continue with his political career is undecided.

He told the Medway Messenger: "I've worked as a lawyer and an economist and I'll be taking some time to reflect with my family what's the best our future. I want to give them some time because it's been a challenging period for my wife and protecting our two young boys from the rigour of two campaigns."

He congratulated Kelly Tolhurst and David Cameron on a a successful campaign "against the expectations of many, and possibly even himself".

Mr Cameron, who personally oversaw a "kitchen-sink" strategy to try to win in November including five visits, was notable absent during the general election campaign.

Mr Reckless added: "This isn't what commentators or pundits or what most politicians expected. but the people have spoken and there is wisdom usually in what democracy says."
But despite the Tory success Mr Reckless said he had no regrets over his defection to Ukip last year.

"This isn't about me or whether I'm an MP, it's about the people in Rochester and Strood and who they want to have representing them.

"And it's about what I believe in, and I didn't believe we were keeping the promises we made as Conservatives and I believe in our political system needs radical reform."

Amid heckles of "you're fired" in his speech after the result he said: "My family aside, nothing I’ve done in my life has given me greater pleasure than to represent this constituency - thank you to everyone who gave me that privilege.

"You elected me five years ago on the back of some clear promises, not least to cut net immigration to tens of thousands a year. When it became clear to me those promises were not being kept, I tried to do something about it and changed party.

"I asked for your permission to continue under my new colours because I didn’t want anyone to feel they’d elected me under false pretences.

"An MP should never forget, not even for a nano-second that they are the spokesperson, champion and employee of their constituents."