Shadow Housing Minister and former BBYO leader Grant Shapps has held Welwyn Hatfield for the Conservatives.

He has a strong majority of 17,423, ahead of his closest rival, Labour’s Mike Hobday. He increased his majority with a 11.1% swing.

Mr Shapps, who has represented the constituency since 2005, is likely to be a front bench minister if David Cameron becomes Prime Minister.

A close colleague of Mr Cameron’s, Mr Shapps is a former vice chairman of the Conservative Party with responsibility for campaigning.

All the results from the key constituencies on our Election 2010 page