DAVID Baines was beaming with pride as he took to the stage at St Helens' general election count shortly after 3am.
Victory was his, he had succeeded Conor McGinn as Labour MP for St Helens North on a night when the party swept back into power with a landslide victory.
Mr Baines, who grew up in Haydock, said: "I am so proud to be the first MP from St Helens North to represent St Helens North - and whether you voted for me or not I promise I will do all I can to represent you and your communities to the best of my abilities."
In St Helens North, there was an overall turnout of 38,120 voters, which is 53.3 per cent of the electorate in the constituency.
Mr Baines recorded 21,284 votes, while Reform UK finished a strong second with 9,115 votes, giving the new MP a majority of 12,709.
The former council leader reflected that it had been a long night and a "long 14 years under the Tories", saying that "the sun would be out in the morning and so would the Conservatives".
The father-of-two, who was accompanied at the election count by wife Helen, said he and the party would celebrate tonight but added that the hard work would begin in the morning.
St Helens North result
Jayne Louise Rear - Conservative Party - 4,507
Joe Greenhalgh - English Constitution Party, Independence for England - 274
Daniel Thomas - Green Party - 3,495
David Baines - Labour Party - 21,284
Pat Moloney - Liberal Democrats - 1,799
Malcolm Webster - Reform UK - 9,115
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