Former Devizes MP Danny Kruger has bucked the national trend by winning the seat for East Wiltshire in the 2024 General Election, but for him the win was tinged with sadness.

Mr Kruger, who is quite the local celebrity as the former Devizes MP since 2019 and the son of Bakeoff's Prue Leith, received 16,489 votes in East Wiltshire.

But despite beating Labour rival Rob Newman, Kruger's share of the vote was almost cut in half since the last election, and his winning speech was one of sadness more than celebration.

Taking to the podium at Five Rivers Leisure Centre, in Salisbury, he said: "My great thanks go to the people of East Wiltshire, the majority of whom have decided to elect me and I promise to work as hard as I possibly can for you all.

Newly elected MP Danny Kruger's mood was sombre throughout the night.Newly elected MP Danny Kruger's mood was sombre throughout the night. (Image: Spencer Mulholland)

"I acknowledge on this night, while I am very pleased to be elected, it has been a terrible night for the Conservative Party.

"I was elected for the first time four years ago on a great wave of hope and optimism that our party could help bring our country together after the Brexit divisions and deliver for all those people who had voted for us for the first time.

"I am so sorry that it has come to this only a few short years later and there is much for us to reflect on."

Although he didn't officially name Reform UK as the reason for the loss of Conservative votes, the implications were clearly there.

"My view is that this disaster has happened because my party has allowed another party to attract so many voters and we have lost so much support from people who should naturally find their home in my party," Mr Kruger added.

"My job as a Conservative MP is to try and reunite the Conservative family.

"For now the night belongs to Labour and my congratulations to them and I pledge to serve loyally and wish the new government all the best."

Despite being predicted a 99+ per cent chance of winning in the exit polls, Mr Kruger's mood had been sombre throughout the evening.

Speaking to the Gazette and Herald after the win, the forlorn new East Wiltshire MP added: “On a national picture it doesn’t look like Labour has actually won it, it just looks like the Conservatives have lost it.”