Conservative Robert Goodwill has won a third term as the MP for Scarborough and Whitby.
The Transport minister retained his seat with a reduced majority of 6.200 in the face of competition from Labour’s Ian McInnes.
The Liberal Democrats saw its share of the vote collapse from five years ago. Down to 2,159 from 11,093 in 2010. The party was beaten out by the Greens for fourth place, with Juliet Boddington coming home a distant last for the Alliance for Green Socialism.
Sam Cross followed the national trend by gaining a respectable result for UKIP. The party, which finished fourth in the borough in 2010 with fewer than 1,500 votes, polled 8,162 this time around.
UKIP are also predicted a strong showing in the local authority election which will be counted today from 1pm.
Robert Goodwill said he was delighted with the result locally and nationally. He said: “The whole of the country should breath a sigh of relief.
“Particularly Scarborough and Whitby as we get to keep our enterprise zone and the investment that is coming our way will continue to come our way because we can continue with our economic plan. “I’m very humbled to be trusted by the people of Scarborough and Whitby to serve them for the next five years, I hope. “I want to thank not only those who voted for me but the ones who didn’t as I will continue to serve them to the best of my ability.”
Labour’s Ian McInnes said he was encouraged by his showing.
He added: “I think it’s been a fantastic campaign, the team have worked really, really hard and we’ve shown that we have reduced Robert’s majority so for me that shouts everything that the people of Scarborough and Whitby are ready for change.”
Sam Cross said UKIP had shown that Scarborough and Whitby was now a three party race. He said: “I’m absolutely ecstatic think it’s seven times what we’ve achieved before and the first time we have got our deposit back. “I’m now hoping that we can take eight seats in the borough count [today] and show we are here to stay.”
The count lasted well into the early hours after 47,925 votes were cast in the election, more than one fifth of votes were submitted by post.
The turnout of 65.19 per cent was a fraction of a percent up on five years ago.
Robert Goodwill (Con) - 20,613
Ian McInnes (Lab) - 14,413
Sam Cross (UKIP) - 8,162
David Malone (Green) - 2,185
Michael Beckett (Lib) - 2,159
Juliet Boddington (AGS) – 207
The Scarborough News.