The Conservatives suffered a resounding defeats at the polls (Image: Getty)
Among the biggest surprises on general election night was the loss of one of the Conservative constituencies considered to be one of the safest.
First created in 1885, the seat of Wokingham has consistently returned a Conservative MP into Parliament despite the boundary changes it experienced over the years.
But in a historic first, voters turned their backs on Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and his party and voted in Liberal Democrat candidate Clive Jones as their new representative in the Commons.
Mr Jones, a former local councilman, beat Tory Lucy Demery with 25,743 votes to her 17,398 with a turnout of 72.2 percent.
Reform UK's Colin Wright came in third with 5,274 ahead of Labour candidate Monica Hamidi and the Greens' Merv Boniface.
READ MORE: Carol Vorderman can't contain glee as she gloats over Liz Truss humiliation
Wokingham had been a Tory seat since 1885 (Image: Getty)
Wokingham's previous MP was Brexiteer John Redwood, who was first elected in 1987 but confirmed he would not be running for re-election this time around.
Mr Jones is one of 71 Liberal Democrats set to take a seat in the Commons after what leader Sir Ed Davey called a "record-breaking night."
The former councilman had been building momentum for his campaign since March 2022 as the Lib Dems built up their support in the Berkshire seat first in the borough council and then in the local elections.
In his victory speech, Mr Jones said: "The country and the people of Wokingham have voted for change.
DON'T MISS:
Pension triple lock warning over one thing you need to know about Labour [PERSONAL FINANCE]
Could 'crisis-hit' Wales be a blueprint for Sir Keir Starmer's UK? [ANALYSIS]
'I'm a Red Wall Tory councillor and this is where it all went wrong' [EXCLUSIVE]
Trending
“The people of Wokingham have been wonderfully supportive, they knew we needed real change so they voted for me to be the first ever Liberal Democrat MP for Wokingham.
"I promise to work tirelessly on their behalf. This is their victory and thank you very, very much.
DON'T MISS
Powered by
The repercussions of this election will be felt from Gaza to Grimsby
45 Comments
The five reasons why Keir Starmer shouldn't be so smug about Labour's win
15 Comments
POLL: Who is the most likeable UK political party leader? You decide
333 Comments
Four reasons why the General Election wasn't quite as bad for the Tories as it seems
24 Comments
'We're coming for you!' Nigel Farage issues Keir Starmer brutal '87 seat' warning
316 Comments
Trump advisor hails Farage's election surge as 'resurrection of Brexit spirit' across UK
438 Comments
Jeremy Hunt among more than a dozen Tory big beasts tipped to lose seats
5 Comments
'Ugly face' of the Lib Dems unmasked as Tory sounds alarm over disturbing attacks
130 Comments
POLL: Should Britain scrap first past the post for proportional representation?
298 Comments
General Election rule which means your vote won't count and how to check
91 Comments
Shock graph shows staggering gulf between Reform's millions of votes and tiny seat haul
245 Comments
Starmer could steamroll through left-wing measures thanks to landslide majority
19 Comments
Lib Dem surge laid bare as Tories set to lose Margaret Thatcher's old seat
5 Comments
Express readers crown UK's worst political leader and the result is clear
76 Comments
Lib Dem leader breaks silence on Reform UK after Nigel Farage won nearly 600k more votes
497 Comments
How the Lib Dems were able to get 67 more seats than Reform despite 590k fewer votes
31 Comments
POLL: Have you decided who you're voting for in the General Election tomorrow?
231 Comments
The 7 big name Tories who are still MPs after surviving wipeout
34 Comments
The four Tory Cabinet Ministers toppled by Ed Davey's Lib Dems in record-breaking vote
70 Comments
Lib Dems on track for 'best results in a century' in shock exit election poll results
12 Comments
The repercussions of this election will be felt from Gaza to Grimsby
45 Comments
The five reasons why Keir Starmer shouldn't be so smug about Labour's win
15 Comments
POLL: Who is the most likeable UK political party leader? You decide
333 Comments
Four reasons why the General Election wasn't quite as bad for the Tories as it seems
24 Comments
'We're coming for you!' Nigel Farage issues Keir Starmer brutal '87 seat' warning
316 Comments
Trump advisor hails Farage's election surge as 'resurrection of Brexit spirit' across UK
438 Comments
Jeremy Hunt among more than a dozen Tory big beasts tipped to lose seats
5 Comments
'Ugly face' of the Lib Dems unmasked as Tory sounds alarm over disturbing attacks
130 Comments
POLL: Should Britain scrap first past the post for proportional representation?
298 Comments
General Election rule which means your vote won't count and how to check
91 Comments
Shock graph shows staggering gulf between Reform's millions of votes and tiny seat haul
245 Comments
Starmer could steamroll through left-wing measures thanks to landslide majority
19 Comments
Lib Dem surge laid bare as Tories set to lose Margaret Thatcher's old seat
5 Comments
Express readers crown UK's worst political leader and the result is clear
76 Comments
Lib Dem leader breaks silence on Reform UK after Nigel Farage won nearly 600k more votes
497 Comments
How the Lib Dems were able to get 67 more seats than Reform despite 590k fewer votes
31 Comments
POLL: Have you decided who you're voting for in the General Election tomorrow?
231 Comments
The 7 big name Tories who are still MPs after surviving wipeout
34 Comments
The four Tory Cabinet Ministers toppled by Ed Davey's Lib Dems in record-breaking vote
70 Comments
Lib Dems on track for 'best results in a century' in shock exit election poll results
12 Comments
The repercussions of this election will be felt from Gaza to Grimsby
45 Comments
The five reasons why Keir Starmer shouldn't be so smug about Labour's win
15 Comments
POLL: Who is the most likeable UK political party leader? You decide
333 Comments
Four reasons why the General Election wasn't quite as bad for the Tories as it seems
24 Comments
'We're coming for you!' Nigel Farage issues Keir Starmer brutal '87 seat' warning
316 Comments
Trump advisor hails Farage's election surge as 'resurrection of Brexit spirit' across UK
438 Comments
Jeremy Hunt among more than a dozen Tory big beasts tipped to lose seats
5 Comments
“I will represent you in parliament with honesty, diligence and care. I will champion the NHS, lobby to stop water companies from polluting our waterways and press the government to reduce the effects of the cost of living crisis. I will be relentless on your behalf."
Exit polls had predicted the Lib Dems would secure 61 seats but expectations were quickly surpassed as the party snatched 71 by 8am on Friday.
Sir Ed hailed the "exceptional result" and pledged it would not be "a one-off" as the Lib Dems snatched constituencies from two former Conservative Prime Ministers - Maidenhead from Theresa May and Witney from David Cameron.
SUBSCRIBE Invalid email
We use your sign-up to provide content in ways you've consented to and to improve our understanding of you. This may include adverts from us and 3rd parties based on our understanding. You can unsubscribe at any time. Read our Privacy Policy
Related articles Good Morning Britain chaos as host forced to apologise during tense row Nine things you might have missed if you're just waking up after election result Ousted Brexiteer Tory MP leaves BBC presenters speechless with reaction to loss The 7 big name Tories who are still MPs after surviving election wipeout BBC's Laura Kuenssberg under fire after dig at Keir Starmer as results come in