CONSERVATIVE Andrew Stephenson saw a big swing to his party as he turned Pendle from a marginal seat to a fairly safe one.

In 2017 a surge in the Labour vote saw his majority cut to just 1,279 but yesterday saw him secure comfortable 6,286 vote cushion.

Tory nerves had been frayed coming into the election campaign after they lost control of the borough council in April to a Labour/Liberal Democrat alliance.

But Mr Stephenson, a strong advocate of leaving the European Union, saw his party’s ‘Get Brexit Done’ message cut through and his vote rise by 2,000 to 24,076.

Despite Labour throwing the kitchen sink at the constituency, with a visit by party leader Jeremy Corbyn in the run up to polling day, Labour’s candidate County Cllr Azhar Ali saw Labour’s vote fall by almost 3,000 to 17,890.

Mr Stephenson said: “I am very happy.

“I am delighted that the people of Pendle have chosen to elect me as their MP for the fourth time with my highest vote share.”

Veteran Liberal Democrat Cllr Gordon Lishman saw the party’s vote increase from the 941 her achieved two years ago to 1,548 but still lost his deposit.

Green Clare Hales got 678 votes and Independent John Richardson just 268.

The result in Pendle was a major blow to Labour as it had been one for their target seats and was a clear indication that the political wind was blowing in the Conservatives' favour across the North of England.

Foreign Office minister Mr Stephenson said: “I’m looking forward to returning to Parliament as part of a government which still has a lot to do.

“We will get Brexit done as the people of Pendle clearly want us to.

“My local priorities will be improving transport links for the constituency particularly by re-instating the Colne to Skipton rail line and tackling traffic congestion at the end of the M65.”

Former Age Concern boss Mr Lishman, 72, said: “I am pleased that I increased the Liberal Democrat vote.

“I don’t think I shall be standing again. I’ve done my bit.

“I will have other things to do including looking at where the party goes now.”