BROMSGROVE's Tory MP Julie Kirkbride was returned to the House of Commons for a second term last night having scooped more than half the votes and almost doubling her majority.
Miss Kirkbride firmly retained her seat having beat her nearest rival, Labour's Peter McDonald, by more than 8,000 votes.
She scored 23,640 votes compared to Mr McDonald who polled 15,502.
The turnout at 67.36 per cent was almost ten per cent down on the General Election in May 1997.
Liberal Democrat candidate Margaret Rowley polled 5,430 votes and the UK Independence Party's Ian Gregory took 1,112 votes.
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