DARLINGTON MP Alan Milburn has rejected claims that the town is now a marginal seat.

After Thursday's local elections - which saw Labour's majority cut from 15 to five - the Conservatives said the town was now politically balanced.

Conservative leader, Councillor Heather Scott, said: "Alan Milburn must be very concerned, because the Conservative vote across the town has gone up, and we are now a marginal seat."

But Mr Milburn retorted: "The Conservatives came into this election expecting to win, and they have lost.

"If they can't win in these circumstances then, in my view, they can never win. Circumstances were very difficult nationally, and there were difficult local issues.

"But despite that, they have failed to take control of the council. They are going away disappointed, downbeat, and depressed.

"We have got to remember, Labour has been in power in Darlington for 16 years, and we have a Government that's been in ten years. It's mid-term and it was a difficult election to fight.

"But despite that, people voted for the Labour party and they have rejected the Conservatives.

"If I was a Conservative, I would be leaving this election depressed."