THE Conservatives won back the Forest of Dean seat they lost to Labour in the 1997 landslide.
With sitting MP Diana Organ retiring from the Commons, Labour put up Isabel Owen but faced a strong challenge from Mark Harper, who had made gains in 2001.
He has now secured a 2,000+ majority on a turnout of almost 71 per cent.
Newent's Patricia Hill came fourth for the UK Independence Party. She was followed by fellow Newent resident Stephen Tweedie, representing the Green Party.
Result: Mark Harper (Con), 19,474; Isabel Owen (Lab), 17,425; Chris Coleman (Lib Dem), 8,185; Patricia Hill (UKIP), 1,140; Stephen Tweedie (Green), 991; Anthony Reeve (Ind), 300, Gerald Morgan (English Parliamentary Party), 125. Majority 2,049. Turn-out 47,640.
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