BOB Blackman has defeated Labour's Tony McNulty to claim the Harrow East seat for the Conservative Party.

The former leader of Brent Council won with a majority of 3,403, taking the marginal seat Labour have held since 1997.

Mr Blackman hailed his victory as a rejection of Labour locally and as part of a “new dawn” in politics across the country.

He said: “As we celebrate victory with a rejection nationally of the Labour government and a rejection of Labour locally.

“We trust that as a new dawn beckons in Harrow and Britain, it does bring an even better age and a better time.

“I look forward to serving the people of Harrow East.”

The victor had kind words for Mr McNulty, commiserating him on his defeat saying: “I pay tribute to Tony, I do know what it is like to lose an election, he must be feeling pretty rough now.

“He has been a conscientious constituency MP, that's the reason why it was so tough to take the seat, and I would like to be as diligent as he was if not more so in being the constituency MP.”

Mr McNulty struggled hard in this campaign to overcome the MP expenses scandal, of which he was a high-profile casualty.

Conceding defeat, the former Harrow councillor was typically bullish in his words, saying: “You've not heard the last of Labour in Harrow East, Harrow West, or nationally. Anyone who thinks this is a good result for the Conservatives locally or nationally needs their head examined.”

He added “I think politics in this country over the next couple of weeks will really need to grow up” as the country comes to terms with the likely possibility of a hung Parliament.

Lib Dem candidate Nahid Boethe came in third in the election, with UKIP's Abhijit Pandya in fourth and Green Party candidate Madeleine Atkins coming in fifth.

All the candidates thanked the volunteers who worked through the night counting the votes, in what was the longest count in Harrow's history according to mayor Eric Silver.

Mr Blackman will now focus his attention on his new role as Harrow East MP, promising to put health services at the top of his agenda and to work “hand in glove” with Harrow Council to improve the borough's services.