Conservative candidate Kemi Badenoch has retained her seat in North West Essex after a tight race.

Mrs Badenoch received 19,360 votes - 35.6 per cent of the overall votes, which is a decrease of 26.1 per cent from her previous majority.

Labour candidate Issy Waite received 16,750 votes, while Reform UK's Grant StClair-Armstrong received 7,668 votes, despite resigning from his party after it was discovered he had previously encouraged people to vote for the far-right British National Party (BNP).

The results being announced in North West EssexThe results being announced in North West Essex (Image: Celia Bartlett)

Liberal Democrat Smita Rajesh received 6,055 votes and Green candidate Edward Gildea received 2,846 votes.

Independent candidate Andrew David Green received 852 votes, fellow independent Erik Bonino received 699 votes and independent candidate Niko Omilana received 156.

There was a 68 per cent voter turnout in the constituency, which was previously named Saffron Walden.

The first ballot box arrives in North West EssexThe first ballot box arrives in North West Essex (Image: Celia Bartlett)

Kemi Badenoch has served as the MP for Saffron Walden since 2017.

As a senior member of the Conservative government, Mrs Badenoch was Secretary of State for Business and Trade from 2023 and President of the Board of Trade and Minister for Women and Equalities since 2022.

Across the country, the UK has seen a Labour landslide - with many other prominent Conservative MPs losing their seats.