General Election 2019: Conservatives retain Hemel Hempstead with increased majority

The former minister, who has held the seat since 2005, picked up 28,968 votes.

Sir Mike has transformed which was once a marginal constituency between his party and Labour into a safe Conservative seat.

Labour candidate Nabila Ahmed, 27, came the closest to in second with 14,405 votes, but failed to slash Penning's majority.

The masters student, who was bidding to be the first Labour MP in Hemel in 14 years, was picked after a controversial selection hearing.

The favourite had been the local party chairman Sandy Palmer - only for her to be pulled from the shortlist just minutes before the meeting began.

Highfield councillor Sammy Barry, who was standing as the Lib Dem candidate, received 6,317 votes and Green Party candidate Sherief Hassan, who also stood in the 2017 election, picked up 1,581 votes.