Vale man elected as Tory MP in Sussex

Mr Quin succeeds Francis Maude in the role, a month after he announced he was stepping down after 18 years as MP in February.

The Horsham Conservative Association chose Mr Quin, a company adviser, to contest the upcoming general election for the party in Sussex.

Mr Quin has increased the Tory’s majority in the market town from 11,460 votes in 2010 to 24,658.

Speaking after the result Mr Quin said: “I am humbled by the result.

“This is a strong showing reflecting a determination in this country not to go backwards.

“We have had a tough five years but people know we are making progress.

“I want to get on with the job.

“It is incredibly exciting.

“I have hugely enjoyed the campaign and I look forward to being able to act on behalf of all the people of the constituency whatever their political viewpoint.

“I am looking forward to getting down to work.

“The campaign was contested with a lot of courtesy between the candidates, it was a pleasure to work alongside them and put across our different viewpoints for the electorate.”

Mr Quin lived in Quainton until being selected as the candidate for Horsham, an area he is familiar with through his wife Joanna.

Both Mr Quin and his wife attended Oxford, and on leaving in 1990 he became a company adviser in the city working for NatWest Securities where he has remained, it now being part of Deutsche Bank.

He also worked at the Treasury from 2008 for nearly two years to help address the global financial crisis.

At March’s selection meeting he pledged to fight the proposal for a second runway at Gatwick ‘tooth and nail’ because of its impact on the local area and its infrastructure.

He also argued the need for improved health facilities and pledged to be a strong advocate for a new acute hospital, with more than half of admissions to East Surrey Hospital coming from the area on top of an increasing population.

There was also modest success for Pearl Lewis, former district councillor for Luffield Abbey, who stood to be an MP in the Hayes and Harlington constituency.

Miss Lewis, who stood as the Conservative candidate in the London borough of Hillingdon finished second behind Labour’s John McDonnell securing 11,143 votes.

Meanwhile, comedian Al Murray, who was born in Stewkley finished sixth in the race for the South Thanet seat in Kent.

Mr Murray, also known as ‘The Pub Landlord’ received 318 votes for the constituency which was won by Conservative Craig Mackinlay who beat UKIP’s Nigel Farage.