Election 2015: How the Christian candidates fared

While some Christian politicians are celebrating election victory, others are inevitably dealing with a more difficult outcome.

Big news

Reuters

Long-standing Labour MP for East Ham Stephen Timms, chair of Christians on the Left, increased his massive majority – previously the largest in Parliament – winning 78 per cent of the vote.

Douglas Alexander, the shadow foreign secretary in the last Parliament, was one of Labour's casualties to the SNP, losing to 20-year-old Mhairi Black in Paisley and Renfrewshire South

Liberal Democrat Simon Hughes, who has been the MP in Bermondsey and Old Southwark for the last 32 years, lost his seat to fellow Christian, Labour's Neil Coyle.

Catholic Jim Murphy, leader of the Labour Party in Scotland, also lost his seat to the SNP. He said he would stay on as leader and stand for Holyrood in 2016.

Liberal Democrat Tim Farron, vice-chair of Christians in Parliament, retained his seat in Westmorland and Lonsdale. It is widely speculated that could be the next leader of the party. He was president of the Liberal Democrats between 2011 and 2014.

Conservative Nicky Morgan was re-elected with 50 per cent of the vote, and is set to keep her role as Education Secretary in David Cameron's new cabinet. Read about her Christian faith here.

New Christians on the block

Among the new Conservative MPs are Caroline Ansell in Eastbourne and Willingdon, Michael Tomlinson in Mid Dorset and North Poole and Alan Mak in Havant, who is also the first ever MP of ethnic Chinese origin.

The new Labour contingent includes Rachel Maskell in York Central and Cat Smith in Lancaster and Fleetwood. Labour's Dawn Butler has returned to Parliament (having lost her seat in 2010), winning 62 per cent of the vote in Brent Central.

Carol Monaghan is one of the 50 new SNP MPs in Westminster. She won 55 per cent of the vote in Glasgow North West.

The DUP's Gavin Robinson beat fellow Christian Naomi Long of the Alliance Party in Belfast East, winning 49 per cent of the vote. Tom Elliott, leader of the Ulster Unionist Party from 2010-2012 and member of the Northern Irish Assembly since 2003, won his seat in Fermanagh and South Tyrone, with 46 per cent of the vote.

Seats held 

Conservative Party:

David Burrowes, co-founder and chairman of the Conservative Christian Fellowship (CCF) who led the Conservative rebellion on same-sex marriage, retained his seat in Enfield, Southgate.

Gary Streeter retained his seat in South West Devon, winning 57 per cent of the vote. He is chair of Christians in Parliament so more vocal about attendance at Christian events than some.

Andrew Selous, former chairman of the CCF, retained his seat in South West Bedfordshire. Stephen Crabb, the Secretary of State for Wales since 2014, retained his seat in Preseli Pembrokeshire, winning 40 per cent of the vote. Crabb began his political career as a graduate on the CARE Leadership Programme (Christian Action Research and Education) – an initiative which offers young Christians placements in the public sphere.

John Glen, a trustee of the CFF, also held his seat in Salisbury, winning 56 per cent of the vote. Jeremy Lefroy, a fellow CCF trustee, was re-elected in Stafford, winning 48 per cent of the vote. Iain Duncan Smith, former Conservative Party leader and the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, was re-elected in Chingford and Woodford Green. In 2010, the Catholic magazine The Tablet named him as one of Britain's most influential Catholics.

Reuters

Eric Pickles (left) Secretary of State for Communities and Local Government, kept his seat, winning 59 per cent of the vote. He has criticised "violent extremists" and "aggressive secularists" and praised the role of religion in public life.

Fiona Bruce held her seat in Congleton, winning 53 per cent of the vote. She is the co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Pro Life.

Caroline Spelman, a patron of the CCF, also retained her seat in Meriden, West Midlands for the, winning 55 per cent of the vote.

Sir Edward Leigh was re-elected in Gainsborough, winning 53 per cent of the vote. Sir Bill Cash also held his seat in Stone, with 55 per cent.

Nicola Blackwood (below) held her seat in Oxford West and Abingdon, winning 46 per cent, and increasing her majority from less than 200 in 2010 to more than 9,000 votes.

David Cameron with Oxford West and Abingdon MP Nicola BlackwoodReuters

Nadine Dorries retained her seat in Mid Bedfordshire, with 56 per cent of the vote.

David Amess, a long-standing Conservative MP and a patron of the CCF, retained his seat in Southend West, winning 50 per cent of the vote. Dominic Grieve, the former attorney general and a fellow CCF patron, was re-elected in Beaconsfield with 63 per cent. Another CCF patron, Julian Brazier, held his Canterbury seat with 43 per cent. Steve Brine won in Winchester, gaining 55 per cent of the vote.

Andrea Leadsom retained her seat for the Conservatives in South Northamptonshire with 60 per cent of the vote. Desmond Swayne was re-elected to New Forest West, with 60 per cent of the vote.  Jacob Rees-Mogg held his seat in North East Somerset, and Conor Burns was re-elected in Bournemouth West.

Alistair BurtReuters

Alistair Burt (left), was re-elected to North East Bedfordshire, winning 59 per cent of the vote. Peter Bone was re-elected in Wellingborough, with 52 per cent of the vote. Gerald Howarth also held his seat in Aldershot. Charlie Elphicke was re-elected in Dover and Deal, winning 43 per cent of the vote.

Mary Glindon was re-elected in North Tyneside with 56 per cent of the vote. Richard Graham held his seat in Gloucester, winning 45 per cent of the vote. Sir Oliver Heald was re-elected in North East Hertforshire, with 55 per cent of the vote. Martin Vickers was held his seat in Cleethorpes, winning 47 per cent of the vote.

Labour:

Gavin Shuker, a former church leader, was re-elected in Luton South with 44 per cent of the vote.

Liam Byrne, the shadow secretary of state for work and pensions, was re-elected in Birmingham, Hodge Hill, with 68 per cent of the vote.

Andy Burnham, the shadow health secretary, retained his seat in Leigh, winning 54 per cent of the vote. Burnham (below) is the bookies' favourite to replace Ed Miliband as Labour leader.

Reuters

Chuka Umunna, the shadow business secretary, is another potential contender for party leader. He was re-elected in Streatham with 53 per cent of the vote.

Andrew Gwynne, the shadow health minister, was re-elected in Denton and Reddish, with 51 per cent of the vote. Jonathan Reynolds, the shadow energy minister, held his seat, winning 45 per cent of the vote. Catherine McKinnell, the shadow treasury minister, was re-elected in Newcastle North, winning 46 per cent of the vote.

Reuters

David Lammy (left) was re-elected in Tottenham with 67 per cent of the vote, and a majority of more than 20,000. Mary Creagh was re-elected for the Labour Party in Wakefield, winning 40 per cent of the vote.

Chris Bryant retained his seat in Rhondda. Bryant was ordained in the Church of England in 1986, but left the priesthood when he decided when it was incompatible with his homosexuality.

Sharon Hodgson was re-elected for Washington and Sunderland West, with 55 per cent of the vote. Michael Meacher also retained his seat in Oldham West and Royton.

Barry Sheerman Huddersfield, was re-elected with 45 per cent of the vote. Gordon Marsden was re-elected in Blackpool South, with 42 per cent of the vote. Helen Goodman held her seat for Labour in Bishop Auckland, winning 41 per cent of the vote. Lyn Brown held her seat in West Ham, winning 68 per cent. Jon Cruddas was re-elected in Dagenham and Rainham, winning 41 per cent of the vote. Ben Bradshaw held his seat in Exeter. Susan Elan Jones was re-elected in Clwyd South. Wayne David held his seat in Caerphilly. John Woodcock was re-elected in Barrow and Furness. Alex Cunningham held his seat in Stockton North with 49 per cent of the vote. Stephen Doughty was re-elected in Cardiff South and Penarth, with 43 per cent of the vote.

DUP:

Nigel Dodds, deputy leader of the DUP, was re-elected in Belfast North. Jeffrey Donaldson, another vice-chair of Christians in Parliament, was re-elected in Lagan Valley with 48 per cent. Ian Paisley Jr, was re-elected in North Antrim, winning 43 per cent of the vote. Jim Shannon held his seat in Strangford, with 44 per cent of the vote. Sammy Wilson was re-elected in Antrim East. David Simpson held his seat in Upper Bann. Gregory Campbell was re-elected in Londonderry East, gaining 42 per cent of the vote.

Others:

Liberal Democrat John Pugh held his seat in Southport, winning 31 per cent of the vote. It was his idea to create the book Lib Dems do God which was published by the Liberal Democrat Christian Forum in 2013. Fellow Liberal Democrat Greg Mullholland was re-elected in Leeds North West, winning 37 per cent of the vote.

Mark Williams is another Liberal Democrat who was re-elected, winning 36 per cent of the vote in Ceredigion, meaning that four of remaining eight Lib Dem MPs identify as Christians.

Seats lost

Liberal Democrat Steve Webb, the minister of state for pensions, lost his seat in Thornbury and Yate to the Conservative Party's Luke Hall.

Fellow Lib Dem, Duncan Hames, who was parliamentary private secretary to Nick Clegg, also lost his seat in Chippenham to Conservative Michelle Donelan. 

Lib Dem Stephen Lloyd, who chaired the all-party parliamentary group on Religious Education, was beaten by Christian Conservative Caroline Ansell. Former Conservative MP Nick de Bois lost his seat in Enfield North.

The Alliance Party's only MP, Naomi Long, lost her seat to the DUP, but the 'Ginger Ninja' promised she'd return.