The Conservatives have captured North West Durham from Labour for the first time in 84 years.
Richard Holden, their candidate, beat prominent Corbynista Laura Pidcock to capture the seat after she spent just two-and-a-half years in office.
Mr Holden worked as an aide to fellow Tory MP Sir Michael Fallon until 2017 when he was accused of groping a woman in her 20s at a party in London in December 2016.
However, following a trial at Southwark Crown Court he was unanimously cleared by a jury and the judge said the decision ensured Mr Holden “leaves the court without a stain on his character”.
Despite his victory his address prior to the 2019 election campaign was some 100 miles away in Clitheroe, Lancashire.
Ahead of the election he said: "We’ve got to get Brexit over the line. It’s about democracy. Politicians shouldn’t be choosing which public votes the accept and which they ignore."
Mr Holden voted Leave in the referendum and accused Ms Pidcock as viewing her political opponents of being her arch nemeses.
In 2017 Ms Pidcock won 25,308 votes compared to Conservative candidate Sally-Ann Hart's 16,516 - meaning he overturned a majority of 8,792 votes
