Nus Ghani secured the Wealden seat with an increased majority, gaining almost 5,000 more votes than in the General Election of two years-ago as the UKIP vote plummeted with the loss of more than 8,000 votes.

On the result, Ghani, the returned MP, said: “It’s just sinking in. There are results coming in that are completely unexpected but I am delighted to have an increase in both my share of the vote and number of votes.

“I am proud of the faith people put in me two years-ago, and the works goes on. Elections can be a tough job,” Ghani added when speaking to The Argus.

The returned MP pointed out that given the national picture with predicted Conservative losses, and the failure to capture target seats that the way forward may take a little time to work out but the flavour of the future will emerge in the coming hours.

She said: “As results are still to come in we will know more by 6am or 7am and we will get back to work.”

The Labour party claimed a second place and in doing so doubled their vote on two years-ago, surging from 6,165 to 13,399 as it would appear that the UKIP vote splintered between the Conservatives and Labour.

The result saw a disappointing display for the Liberal Democrats who held the same ground as in 2015 and there was no sign of a Lib Dem fightback.