LABOUR’S Kate Hollern is the new MP for Blackburn after dramatically bucking the national trend to increase her party’s majority in the town.

The former Blackburn with Darwen council leader secured her victory despite her party’s disastrous showing nationwide, resulting in the resignation of leader Ed Miliband.

As the Tories looked forward to another five years in office with an overall majority, there were notable Conservative victories in East Lancashire marginals.

In Darwen and Rossendale Jake Berry overcame the Labour threat of Will Straw with an increased majority of more than 5,000, and in Pendle Andrew Stephenson was re-elected, seeing off Labour’s Azhar Ali.

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Elsewhere in East Lancashire Labour MP Graham Jones was re-elected in Hyndburn — as was Conservative Nigel Evans in the Ribble Valley.

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In Chorley, Labour’s Lindsay Hoyle also defied the trend, almost doubling his majority.

On a night which saw the decimation of the Lib Dems across the UK, Gordon Birtwistle — the party’s MP for Burnley—was overthrown by Labour’s Julie Cooper.

David Cameron returned to No 10 with an overall majority of five following a stunning victory which confounded the pollsters, shattering Labour and going close to wiping the Lib Dems off the map.

Mr Cameron said: “I truly believe we are on the brink of something special in our country. We can make Britain a place where a good life is in reach for everyone who is willing to work and do the right thing.

“As we conduct this vital work we must ensure that we bring our country together. As I said in the small hours, we will govern as a party of one nation, one United Kingdom. That means ensuring this recovery reaches all parts of our country, from north to south, from east to west.”

His victory followed a dramatic election night which saw an unprecedented three party leaders resign – Mr Miliband, Liberal Democrat boss and former deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg, and UKIP’s Nigel Farage, although he hinted he may stand for the post again in an election later this year.

He failed to take Thanet South as his party ended up with one seat as did the Greens.

The LibDems went from 57 seats to eight as Nicola Sturgeon’s Scottish National Party took 56 of 59 seats in Scotland, reducing Labour to a single Scottish seat.

High-profile casualties included business secretary Vince Cable, former LibDem leader Charles Kennedy, Labour’s Shadow Chancellor Ed Balls and Respect leader George Galloway.

Mr Clegg hung onto his Sheffield seat but quit his post because of the ‘crushing’ scale of the LibDem meltdown.

Mrs Sturgeon said she had ‘never in my wildest dreams’ dreamt of such a success.

Mr Miliband said as he quit: “I will never give up on fighting for the Britain that I believe in.We have come back before and this party will come back again.”

In Blackburn, even Mrs Hollern’s party strategists had expected Conservative candidate Bob Eastwood to reduce the margin between the two parties following former cabinet minister Jack Straw’s retirement after 36 years.

Mrs Hollern turned those predictions on their head, increasing Labour’s majority from 9,856 in 2010 to 12,760, with a 3.6 per cent swing to Labour.

Mrs Hollern said: “I am delighted. This shows Blackburn has rejected Tory austerity.

“I did not expect Labour’s majority to increase. It’s a massive endorsement from the town. Now the hard work starts. I promise to represent the whole of Blackburn in Parliament.

Her Tory opponent Bob Eastwood said: “Obviously, I am disappointed. I wish Kate all the best representing the people of Blackburn.”

Labour agent Phil Riley said the ‘spectacular’ result was a massive personal endorsement for Mrs Hollern.

There was also delight for the Conservatives with the re-election of Mr Berry, member for Rossendale and Darwen, who took the seat despite a close run election race with Will Straw, Jack’s son.

Mr Berry, whose seat was ranked 79th in the Tories’ list of constituencies to defend, found his share of the 49,153 votes cast in Rossendale and Darwen went up an impressive 4.8 per cent.

He said: “I am humbled that my majority has gone up. I will continue to be a hard-working and campaigning MP for Rossendale and Darwen.”

Will Straw, who was standing for Labour and was beaten into second place, said: “We are a party of strong values, resilience and optimism. We will be back.”

His father said: “When people are fearful, they stick with what they know. That’s how we won in 2005 and that’s what the Tories did in 1992.”

Ribble Valley MP, Nigel Evans, who has represented the constituency since 1992, received 25,404 votes, down from 26,298 from the 2010 general election.

The victory comes after he was acquitted last year of a series of sexual offences which forced him to quit as deputy speaker of the House of Commons when he was charged.

Mr Evans said: “This has been an incredibly tough couple of years for me. The fact that people have placed their trust in me yet again is fantastic.”

Labour’s Graham Jones took an extra 600 votes. The Hyndburn MP said: “I’ve always worked hard and I’m a genuine working class candidate.”

Labour retained Chorley with Mr Hoyle almost doubling his majority.

Conservative challenger Rob Loughenbury came second and said he was ‘bitterly disappointed’.