Chris Philp found himself being heckled by supporters of the Class War Party as he was announced as the MP for Croydon South.

The Conservative paid hardly any attention to shouts about the police and murder as he thanked the other candidates for their clean campaign.

He also thanked his wife Elizabeth for looking after their two young children while he spent countless hours standing outside Purley station handing out leaflets.

Mr Philp also promised to take some of the other candidates views on board.

This was most noticeable when he nodded in agreement with the Putting Croydon First! candidate Mark Samuel’s suggestion to make changes to the way Croydon benefits from business rates.

Your Local Guardian:

Gill Hickson endured a difficult night as a Liberal Democrat

Liberal Democrat Gill Hickson, who saw the Lib Dem vote frop from 12,866 to just 3,448 said her party had lost several great constituency MPs in the election.

She also questioned what the leader Nick Clegg would do next.

Speaking after the declaration she said: “I think Nick will look to leave politics after this term.

“I don’t think he’s got the heart to be leader anymore.

“I have a lot of admiration for him but I think he will step down altogether out of politics.

“I’m very sad to see him go.”

Mr Philp replaces retiring Richard Ottaway, who had held the Croydon South seat since 1992.

Young hopeful Emily Benn, who stood in 2010, aged just 20, increased the Labour vote by 3,00 from five years ago, but was unable to mount a serious challenge in the Conservative stronghold.

 

Full results for Croydon South:

Chris Philp 31,448 (Cons)

Emily Benn 14,308 (Lab)

Kathleen Garner 6,068 (UKIP)

Gill Hickson 3,448 (LibDem)

Peter Underwood 2,154 (Green)

Mark Samuel 221 (Putting Croydon First!)

Jonathan Bigger 65 (Class War)