West Cornwall's recently deposed former MP Andrew George has vowed not to walk away from his old constituency as he speaks of his fears for Cornwall under Conservative rule.

Mr George, who held the parliamentary seat for St Ives - covering a large swathe of Cornwall including Helston, Penzance and the Isles of Scilly - lost by 2,000 votes to Conservative Derek Thomas, during a bitterly fought election that Liberal Democrat support wiped out as the county was drowned in blue.

In a statement released on Monday, the Mullion born former MP said the Conservatives won a "marginal" victory as his own party was "undone by a late tidal wave of largely synthetically generated fear" which it could "do nothing to resist."

He described the new majority government as a blow to his party, to the country in general, and to the young, the sick, and the poor particular - as well as to foxes which may soon fall victim to huntsmen with dogs once more.

He said: "If you’re wealthy, privileged, anticipate a large inheritance, have more than one home, are a land speculator, want to hide your wealth from the taxman, believe that much of the ills of society are the cause of foreigners, gypsies and others, and that the poor have only themselves to blame you’ll be pleased with the new government.

"However, if you are poor, sick, disabled, a young person seeking hope for your future, poorly housed, dependent on public services, work for or are passionate about the NHS or even a creature who’d prefer not to be pursued to their death across our countryside just for fun then you have much to fear during these next five years."

Helston schooled Mr George, who had held his seat since 1997, thanked everyone who had supported his campaign, congratulated his victorious opponent, and said it had been the "greatest privilege" of his life to represent his constituents.

He described the area as "the best place and the best constituency in the UK", and promised to support initiatives and campaigns for the good of the people, the economy and the environment in the area, in spite of party differences, adding that he had unfinished projects that he could complete without parliamentary support.

He added: "I was born and brought up here. I’m not going away."

Mr George, who sponsored a private members bill to fight the bedroom tax during the last parliament, spoke of the need for a "progressive alliance" of the left to fight against the Conservatives.

"The Tories now have absolute entitlement to govern this country," he said, but polling less than 25 per cent of votes gave them no "moral justification to rule as they please."

He concluded: "If we don’t find a way of bringing together people in a progressive alliance to fight the Conservative agenda then we will all be undone."