Labour has lost its 13 year hold on Harrow East to Conservative Bob Blackman, following the furore over Tony McNulty’s expenses.

Mr Blackman celebrated a seven per cent swing from Labour to Conservative with a 3,403 majority, after he received 21,435 votes. The constituency covers the densely Jewish populated areas of Edgware, Kenton and Stanmore and includes four big United Synagogue congregations: Stanmore, Belmont, Kenton and Edgware, as well as Edgware Federation and Edgware Reform Synagogue.

Mr McNulty, who resigned as London minister and employment minister last year, gained a 37.6 per cent share of votes (18,032), a decrease of 7.9 per cent on the previous election results.

Liberal Democrat Nahid Boethe received 14.3 p er cent of votes, followed by UKIP and Green candidates.

In March 2009, Mr McNulty admitted claiming expenses on a second home occupied by his parents, eight miles away from his home, and had to pay back almost £14,000.