Labour wins Peterborough and NW Cambridgeshire

Sam Carling, 22, has taken North West Cambridgeshire from veteran MP Shailesh Vara

Veteran Conservative MP Shailesh Vara has lost his North West Cambridgeshire seat by 39 votes to one of the youngest Labour candidates standing in the election, 22-year-old Sam Carling.

Mr Vara had held the seat for nearly 20 years.

Labour has gained both Peterborough and North West Cambridgeshire in a dramatic night for the city.

The city seats were among the last to be called in the county because of a recount, which overall has seen the Liberal Democrats increase its presence.

Shailesh Vara loses his North West Cambridgeshire seat after almost 20 years

Mr Carling called his victory over Mr Vara a "political earthquake".

"In this election, residents across the area heard our message of change," he said.

Mr Vara said he felt "disappointed" to lose and called on the Conservative Party to unite.

"I feel blessed to have served the area for about 20 years," he said.

The result was delayed after a recount was ordered for both seats

The city of Peterborough spans two parliamentary constituencies.

Peterborough covers the city centre and areas north of the River Nene, such as the cathedral and its new university, ARU Peterborough.

The constituency of North West Cambridgeshire covers areas south of the river, including the Peterborough United stadium.

Shailesh Vara loses his seat to Labour's Sam Carling

Labour candidate Andrew Pakes has been elected in Peterborough, beating the incumbent MP Paul Bristow by 118 votes.

He said it was "the privilege" of his life to represent the city after a "hard-fought campaign".

"The public like to keep the politicians on their feet," he said.

"We knew it was going to be tough. Bristow has been a strong contender."

Labour leader for Peterborough City Council, Dennis Jones, said he was "relieved and very happy" with the results.

Andrew Pakes for Labour (left) takes Peterborough from the Tories

Mr Bristow, the city's Conservative candidate and the seat's former MP, has apologised to supporters for his loss.

Mr Bristow said: "We have made real mistakes nationally- and those responsible for these mistakes should ask themselves serious questions on their responsibility in all of this.

"I hope they will apologise to MPs and candidates who lost. And if they do, then they can have a role in rebuilding the party."

Analysis by Kate Moser Andon, BBC political reporter, Cambridgeshire

It's been a remarkable night in Peterborough.

Labour has taken the city's two Conservative-held constituencies by the smallest of margins, turning the city from blue to red overnight.

It took just 39 votes for Labour's Sam Carling to unseat long-standing Conservative MP Shailesh Vara, who was elected to the North West Cambridgeshire constituency nearly 20 years ago.

At the age of 22, Mr Carling would have been a toddler when Mr Vara was first elected to the largely rural constituency.

The result shows no seat is ever truly safe. Mr Vara had a huge Conservative majority of 25,983 in 2019.

Recounts in both constituencies meant the results, expected at 02:00 BST, didn't arrive until dawn.

Labour's win in the Peterborough constituency, which covers the city centre and areas like Bretton, Werrington and Parnwell, is perhaps less surprising.

The Conservatives lost half of their city council seats at the local election in May, but former Conservative MP Paul Bristow was still hoping to retain the seat.

Like many parts of the UK, Reform got a significant share in both constituencies and managed to split would-be Conservative voters.

Also notable in Peterborough was the success of the Workers Party of Britain, a potential threat to the Labour vote.

Peterborough's new Labour MP Andrew Pakes and North West Cambridgeshire's new MP Sam Carling now have the job of carrying out promises made during their campaign.

They'll be representing the biggest city in the East of England, and one of the fastest-growing in the UK. But also a city where local people want to see regeneration, fewer empty shops, and better access to healthcare and dentistry.

Labour leader for Peterborough Dennis Jones said he was "relieved" after the wins

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