General Election 2017: Who won and lost in the Black Country and Staffordshire?
The widely predicted Tory takeover of the Black Country failed to materialise today, as Labour held onto all bar one of its seats.
But Labour maintained its grip on other marginal seats.
WATCH: Key moments from dramatic election night
New candidate Eleanor Smith won Wolverhampton South West and Emma Reynolds held Wolverhampton North East. Labour deputy leader Tom Watson held West Bromwich East with a reduced majority, while John Spellar held Warley and Adrian Bailey held West Bromwich West. Pat McFadden held Wolverhampton South East and Valerie Vaz maintained her dominance of Walsall South.
There was better news for the Conservatives elsewhere across the region.
Government Chief Whip Gavin Williamson easily held South Staffordshire. Asked if there would be another General Election he said: “Who knows?” He added: “We just need to get on with the job of delivering on the referendum result and making sure the economy is strong.” Michael Fabricant held Lichfield, while Amanda Milling and Sir Bill Cash held Cannock Chase and Stone respectively.
In Stafford Jeremy Lefroy kept his seat and Mark Garnier increased his majority in Wyre Forest. Wendy Morton increased her majority in Aldridge-Brownhills.
By 7am the only outstanding result was in Dudley North which had seen two re-counts with the candidates split by just a few votes. But Labour's Ian Austin, who has held the seat since 2005, was eventually confirmed as the victor by just 22 votes.
