IN a night which saw shock after shock in constituencies across Britain, Conservative Geoffrey Cox was elected with the biggest ever majority in Torridge and West Devon in a General Election — which he described as simply the most extraordinary in his lifetime.

A delighted Mr Cox won his hat-trick victory after a night of high drama which provoked cheers and tears at the 12-hour 'marathon' election count for the constituency in Holsworthy Leisure Centre overnight last Thursday/Friday.

Following the announcement that Mr Cox had won by more than an 18,000 majority, the MP, who has represented Torridge and West Devon, the second largest constituency in the country, since 2005, said: 'I am exhausted, elated and relieved.

'I have always believed I had to work hard in this constituency but I did not expect a landslide like this.

'We were quietly confident that we would win but never complacent. I am delighted and very very grateful to the voters.

'Trust has to be earned and I hope that over the past ten years, I have won the trust of the very large population of people living in this constituency and I will do all I can do to maintain that.

'It is an enormous privilege to be given the opportunity to serve this area again for a third time.'

Geoffrey Cox received 28,774 votes, with the UKIP candidate Derek Sargent coming in second with 10,371 votes. Liberal Democrat Paula Dolphin was third with 7,483 votes, Michael Sparling of Labour won 6, 015 votes and Cathrine Simmons of the Green Party received 3,941 votes. The turn-out of voters was 72.23%.

Throughout the night, candidates and their teams were gripped by events unfolding across the country. Many South West seats, traditionally held in recent years by the Liberal Democrats — those such as North Cornwall and North Devon — fell to the Conservatives. In Plymouth, Labour's Alison Seabeck, who had been MP for ten years, also lost her seat to Conservative Johnny Mercer.

Mr Cox said a clear and decisive judgement had been made by the British people proving that the Conservatives' strategy to concentrate on the economy and bring it back to health was the right one.

He said the progress in developing the interests of the South West would continue with better road and rail links, Broadband connections and agricultural and tourism benefits.

Derek Sargent from UKIP was celebrating the best constituency result for his party in the country.

He said in 2010 UKIP only won 3% of the vote, so it was a vast improvement this time: 'We have had a lot of support and people like our policies,' he said.

'Certainly when I have been out and about visiting residents, I have found that the number one issue for many people is immigration followed by the NHS and the economy.

'Obviously we would have liked to win the seat but to be second is a very good result for us.'

Lib Dem candidate Paula Dolphin said she was disappointed by the result nationally, but the party would just have to 'work harder'.

'It's a shock and so unexpected,' she said.

'I feel there must be some fundamental issue within our manifesto that people should choose not to vote for the Liberal Democrats. We achieved a lot in the Coalition Government from increasing the tax allowance to pupil premium funding, school meals and apprenticeships, but it comes across as if all the good things were done by the Conservatives.

'In five years' time perhaps people will have wished they had kept the coalition. Only time will tell.'

Michael Sparling said he nearly tripled his number of votes from five years ago so would take some comfort from that.

The Plymouth city councillor said he was disappointed by the General Election results in Plymouth Sutton and Devonport and Moorview, but was delighted that Ben Bradshaw had increased his majority in Exeter.

'Geoffrey Cox has a responsibility to represent all the people in Torridge and West Devon, not just the people who voted for him,' he said.

'There are many young people who feel disconnected out there and many who are on low incomes and need help.'

Cathrine Simmons said the Green Party vote had risen generally, but the party was keen to promote its ethos of a more inclusive and more transparent administration within local government.

'Yes, there is austerity at the moment but sometimes it is a case of thinking outside the box and negotiating and working together to get a better system of local government,' she said.

'You just have to look at place like Brighton and Hove where the Green Party administration has brought derelict buildings back into use, created community gardens, raised the standards in education, built 400 affordable homes and reduced the number of people on drugs. '

Leader of the Torridge and West Devon Conservative Party, James Morrish, said the first two years of the last government were about 'firefighting' the rot: 'This country was in a dreadful mess but in the last 18 months the government has been building on a steadier foundation and that is what will continue,' he said.

'The opportunities for business growth is key to the future of this country and that is a number one priority. Providing accommodation for our young people, protecting our wonderful NHS and looking after food production will all be important issues within this government.'