RACHEL Maclean has defended the Redditch Conservative seat with a higher number of votes than her predecessor.

Mrs Maclean was selected to fight for Redditch in the General Election just over a month ago after fellow Tory MP Karen Lumley decided to stand down due to ill health. 

She was elected MP with 23,652 votes, almost 3,000 more than Mrs Lumley was elected with in 2015. 

Speaking to The Advertiser on the win, she said: "I am over the moon - I am absolutely delighted. 

"A lot of votes were cast- I think we have done pretty well across the whole area."

When asked what the people of Redditch could expect for her, she said: "They can expect to see commitment, service, hard work, dedication and passion.

"They can see all the things I put into the campaign.

"That is what I want to do- I want to serve the people of Redditch. That is why I got into politics to serve people. 

"I want to serve this country. I want to serve the community with Conservative values. That is what I want to do."

She added that she would be moving with her family to Redditch as soon as possible.

The voter turn-out was 70.33 per cent - three per cent higher than in 2015. 

Coming second was Rebecca Blake (Labour) with 16,289 votes, in third was Neal Stote (NHAP) with 2,239, fourth was Paul Swansborough (UKIP) with 1,371, fifth Susan Juned (Lib Dem) with 1,173, six Kevin White (Green) with 380 votes and seventh was Sally Woodhall (Independent) with 99 votes.