THERE was delight and disappointment for the politicians in Stourbridge after a long night of vote counting - which saw Tory MP Margot James increase her majority over Labour by 1,530 votes.

Ms James was over the moon this morning (Friday May 8) after comfortably romping home to victory with 21,195 votes to Labour candidate Pete Lowe's 14,501.

Councillor Lowe, leader of Dudley Council and a ward councillor for Lye and Stourbridge North, had hoped to reduce the 2010 Conservative majority of 5,164 - but despite leading a strong local campaign it wasn't to be.

He said he was "slightly disappointed with the result" but added: "We set out to reduce the majority - while that hasn't been done there's optimism in the message we're putting across to the people of Stourbridge with community based values and party based values."

Ms James, who sold her pharmaceutical PR firm to pursue her political ambitions ahead of the 2010 general election, was confident from the start of the campaign that she would retain the seat she stole with ease from Labour's Lynda Waltho, but always said she didn't want to be complacent.

She told the News after her latest triumph: "I would like to say a big thank you for the confidence and trust that so many constituents have placed in me again.

"I'm so touched by many of the comments that I've received as I've gone around the constituency and spoken to so many people.

"I'm really humbled. I'm determined to continue to do my very best to represent Stourbridge and bring investment to the area."

UKIP's James Carver was pleased with his performance which earned him 7,774 votes and third place in the Stourbridge constituency where the turnout was 66.8 per cent.

Mr Carver, a West Midlands Euro MP for UKIP, said: "We've jumped about 17 per cent in the polls; it shows UKIP is a real alternative to the established political parties. I'm looking forward to continuing to represent Stourbridge in the European Parliament and would like to place on record my thanks to all the good people of Stourbridge who put their trust in me."

Liberal Democrat Chris Bramall, who was standing for the party for the fifth time in Stourbridge, had hoped to hang onto his usual third place in the polls but only managed fourth this time - perhaps not surprisingly given the national collapse of the Lib Dem vote which has prompted the resignation of leader Nick Clegg.

But philosophical Mr Bramall, who had to put off canvassing as he has been nearing the end of a six-year Open University degree in International Studies, said: "It could have been worse - I could have come last."

He conceded, however, that it was perhaps folly for the party to have ever made its fatal pledge on tuition fees.

Green Party candidate Christian Kiever only polled 1,021 votes and had to settle for fifth place but the retired civic servant said he was just proud to be standing up for what he believes in. He told the News: "It's politics from the heart - it's good to be able to take a stand."