ASHOK KUMAR’S brother was one of the first people to congratulate new Middlesbrough South and East Cleveland MP Tom Blenkinsop.

The former union official successfully withstood a concerted effort from Tory candidate Paul Bristow to hold the seat for Labour. However, the party’s 8,000 majority was cut to fewer than 1,700.

Mr Blenkinsop has promised to continue the hard work that Dr Kumar, who died of a heart condition in March, had carried out in the constituency.

He said: “I am absolutely amazed. I fought really hard. This was not about me, it was about all the hard work that Ashok put in – this is his legacy.

“I was not expecting to be in the position eight weeks ago, but Ashok’s death changed everything.

His brother, Ravi, has been very supportive and he was one of the first people to call and congratulate me.

“There is a lot of hard work to be done, but I intend to fight for manufacturing on Teesside and will not give up on trying to secure a future for the steel industry.”

Mr Bristow said: “This vote has sent a clear message that Teesside is no longer a one-party state and the Conservative Party is back.

“We have cut the majority and we will continue to work hard to win this seat.”

Lib Dem candidate Nick Emmerson, who trailed in a distant third with 7,340 votes, said it had been a hard-fought campaign.