BREAKING NEWS: Huw Merriman holds on to Bexhill and Battle seat

The Conservative candidate secured 36,854 votes – 22,165 ahead of second-placed candidate Christine Bayliss with 14,689 votes.

The Labour candidate’s result was a vast improvement on 2015, when the party secured 7,797 votes with candidate Michelle Thew.

Mr Merriman increased his votes by 6,609 and increased his majority from 20,075 votes to 22,165 votes.

FULL RESULTS:

Huw Merriman (CON): 36,854

Christine Bayliss (LAB): 14,689

Joel Kemp (LIB DEM): 4,485

Geoffrey Bastin (UKIP): 2,006

Jonathan Kent (GREEN); 1,438

More to follow.

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