Dominic Raab dominates in Esher and Walton (From Your Local Guardian)

Dominic Raab dominates in Esher and Walton

9:23am Friday 7th May 2010 in

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Dominic Raab ushered in a new era for the Conservatives in Esher and Walton, storming home with more than 32,000 votes, compared with his nearest rival's 13,000.

Turnout was about 65 per cent, echoing an improvement across the country.

One of the most exciting elections in recent memory proved fairly predictable in terms of the result at Esher and Walton, but the counts still ran late due to the high turnout.

After initially predicting a 1.30am finish, the result came in slightly before 4am.

Mr Raab told the Elmbridge Guardian he would fight for the people of Esher and Walton in Parliament.

He said: "There's a whole range of things we need to do. I want to provide as much support for businesses and families coming through the economic downturn.

"I want to fight for a fairer deal with the local funding. We get a lousy deal from central Government at the moment and I also want to fight for stronger local democracy, which hopefully will help us have the institutional protections in place to preserve our green belt.

“We can't go on as we have over the last 13 years. We've got to get a grip on the huge Government debt and we've got to get the economy firing on all cylinders. The truth is the party that created this mess are not the ones to clean it up, so we need a clear change of direction."

He also paid tribute to his predecessor Ian Taylor.

He said: “I have huge respect for Ian Taylor. I want to pay tribute to his 23 years of public service to the constituency.

“But I'm my own man as well. I dont necessarily have the same views as Ian on everything and my approach is going to be different, so it will be a different style. But I certainly will try to follow the example that he's set.”

ESHER & WALTON Dominic Raab (Con) 32,134

Lionel Blackman (LD) 13,541

Francis Eldergill (Lab) 5,829

Bernard Collignon (UKIP) 1,783

Tony Popham (Ind) 378

Chinners Chinnery (Monster Raving Loony)

Mike Kearsley (English Democrats) 307

Andy Lear (Best of a Bad Bunch) 230