Tories increase majority in Amersham and Chesham (From Bucks Free Press)

Tories increase majority in Amersham and Chesham

11:45am Friday 7th May 2010 in Beaconsfield By Andy Carswell

CHERYL Gillan took 60 per cent of the vote as the Conservatives remained in control of Chesham and Amersham after a convincing victory.

She fended off the Liberal Democrats' best-ever showing to stay as MP for the Buckinghamshire constituency she has served since 1992.

Currently Shadow Secretary of State for Wales, Mrs Gillan received 31,658 of the 52,444 votes cast.

It means her overall majority has increased by 5.6 per cent compared to the 2005 election. And this represents a 2.3 per cent swing from the Lib Dems to the Conservatives.

Lib Dem candidate Tim Starkey polled 14,948 votes, Labour's Anthony Gajadharsingh took 2,942 votes, Alan Stevens of UKIP received 2,129 votes and Nick Wilkins of the Green party polled 767 votes.

Mrs Gillan said she was “very proud to be going back to Westminster on behalf of Chesham and Amersham” - but called for a “strong Government” to be formed after tonight's election.

Before the result was announced she told the Bucks Free Press she was “worried” about the possible effects of a hung Parliament.

After her re-election she said: “We've got some huge challenges to face as a country. We are effectively bankrupt and need a strong Government to take us forward.”

Mrs Gillan added tonight was “one of the most important elections in a generation”.