LUDLOW MP Philip Dunne has expressed disappointment at the national result in the General Election but thanked voters for giving him a record majority in the constituency.

His majority more than 19,000 votes ahead of second-placed Labour was a record for the constituency.

“I am delighted the people of south Shropshire have placed their trust in me, and voted to re-elect me to represent the Ludlow constituency in Parliament for the fourth time,” said Philip Dunne.

He pledged to work for better health and social care, schools and broadband in south Shropshire.

“My priority will continue to be championing the needs of the Ludlow constituency in Westminster, including supporting steps to increase investment in our local health service, schools and social care, and backing businesses to help create sustainable secure jobs in the area,” Philip Dunne added.

“I will continue to fight for improving connectivity, through fibre broadband and stronger mobile signal, and support plans to protect the rural economy and environment.”

He said that, despite failing to secure an overall majority, the number of people voting Conservative had increased.

“Obviously, the result nationally was not what we had hoped for, but the Conservatives increased our vote share by 5.5% to 42.4% of the vote – the highest share for the Conservative Party since 1983,” Philip Dunne said.

“We also secured the highest number of votes nationally (over 13.66 million) since 1992, including more votes than Tony Blair in 1997. We remain the largest party by a clear margin and at this crucial time, we will form a government in the national interest.”