THE "kingmaker" Stockton South constituency was expected to be too close to call - but Conservative incumbent James Wharton rode to victory with a 5,046 majority.

In recent weeks the marginal Tory seat, which Mr Wharton won from Labour by just 332 votes in 2010 - drew visits from heavyweights from both main parties, including David Cameron, George Osborne, Ed Balls, Boris Johnson and Yvette Cooper

Despite a high-profile visit to Stockton ten days ago by the now former Labour leader Ed Miliband, the party limped away licking its wounds after a resounding defeat.

Labour candidate Louise Baldock - who gave up her job and her home in Liverpool to stand in her native constituency of Stockton South - was nowhere to be seen until the count was underway in the early hours of Friday, prompting speculation about a decisive Conservative hold.

While her aides said they believed the election would be too close to call, Ms Baldock kept a low-profile until the count was finalised and left, clearly upset, without giving any media interviews. While she polled 19,175, or 37 per cent of the vote, Mr Wharton was well ahead with 24,221 - 46.8 per cent.

He thanked the people of Stockton for their support and said: "Even if you didn't vote for me, it doesn't matter, I am here for you."

When asked about further cuts in the North-East he said: "When you have a deficit of £90m a year there are still difficult decisions to be taken, but I will always make the case for our area.

"I have now got an awful lot of James Wharton posters to take down, a job I was dreading having not been successful, but I will do it with a little more relish now."

In her speech, Ms Baldock thanked her team and congratulated Mr Wharton.

She was seen yesterday (FRI) at the council elections and later tweeted: "So proud of our team who worked so hard. Gutted to lose the Parliamentary election but delighted to win back the council for Labour."

Ted Strike, of UKIP, came third place with 11 per cent, or 5,480 votes, and Drew Durning of the Liberal Democrats came fourth with three per cent, or 1,366 votes.

Green candidate Jacqui Lovell won 952 votes, while independent Steve Walmsley, who also lost his seat in the local council elections, received 603 votes.