THERE may have been a few shocks across the country last night but in Christchurch it was business as usual for the Conservatives.

Tory candidate Chris Chope was returned by the true blue constituency with an overwhelming majority of 27,888, 56.3 per cent of the vote.

Despite the rise in popularity by his party over the election campaign, Liberal Democrat candidate Martin Hurll returned 12,478 votes, just 25.2 per cent of the total turnout.

Labour candidate Robert Deeks amassed 4,849 votes, 9.8 per cent and UKIP’s David Williams 4,201, 8.5 per cent.

It is believed to be the biggest turnout in the constituency for years.

Out of an electorate of 68,859, 8,995 postal votes were cast along with 49,507 people turning up at polling stations.

The Conservative victory in the traditionally Tory constituency is by no means a surprise although many would have liked to see an upset resembling the day Liberal Democrat candidate Diana Maddock took the seat in the 1993 by-election.

But this was not to be in 2010 as despite questions over his expenses and criticism over his objection to the Debt Relief Bill, Mr Chope was once again triumphant.

He has represented the constituency since 1997, taking the seat from Diana Maddock by just over 2,000 votes.

Celebrating his victory, Mr Chope joked he believed the count had gone so smoothly due to the lack of female candidates.

Afterwards he reassured members of the public and press that his “light-hearted joke” was not about to become Conservative policy and said he would like to see some female candidates next time around.

He thanked the people of Christchurch for their votes and said he looked forward to representing them again. Opposing candidates had hoped for a closer margin this time around as voters, hopefully disillusioned with MPs over the expenses row and other recent controversies, kicked back.

But while turnout topped 2005’s figures by nearly three per cent, the way the constituents of Christchurch cast their votes remained unchanged.

Liberal Democrat candidate Martin Hurll said: "We’ve fought a good campaign and made some inroads for the future.

“We take the view that it was not just about today, but about the future. If we can keep the momentum amassed in this campaign going then we would have done what we set out to do.”

Labour candidate Robert Deeks said it was always an uphill struggle for Labour in Christchurch but that they would return stronger next time around.

David Williams for UKIP described the party’s local result as a “bit disappointing”.

He said: “From what we have been told verbally by people, we were very positive but it doesn’t appear to have reached the ballot boxes.