The Conservatives only just kept their hold on the St Ives constituency following Thursday's general election, which saw Liberal Democrat former MP Andrew George fall a fraction more than 300 votes behind incumbent Derek Thomas.

A 75.9 per cent voter turnout saw Mr Thomas increase his number of votes, but his lead fell to just 312 compared to almost 2,500 in 2015, while Mr George saw a 9.4 per cent swing in support.

Speaking immediately after his victory, Mr Thomas said he was "glad to have the opportunity to carry on his job."

He also refused to question Theresa May's judgement in calling the election, adding "I as the local MP have a job to do here in Cornwall. Parliament can look after itself."

Mr George said he felt a strong Labour turnout "might well have saved the Tories bacon," and added: "It's frustrating. It's not disappointing for myself, it's disappointing for west Cornwall and the Isles of Scilly."

He also said he believes there will be another election this year, and did not rule out an arrangement between Liberal Democrats to force the Conservatives out of some Cornish seats, saying: "I do think progressives will grow even stronger.

"It may well be that we need to go further in future because I'm sure that the vast majority who voted Labour in west Cornwall will probably hate having a Conservative MP, and when they have time to reflect they will prefer a Lib Dem as perhaps their second choice."

Nationally the election result means the Conservatives remain the largest party in parliament, albeit without an overall majority, and Theresa May has been criticised for reducing her power ahead of Brexit with an unnecessary election, while the party is on course to ally with the the DUP - a right wing Northern Irish unionist party with extreme views on women's and LGBTQ rights.

When asked for his opinion this week on the developments in Westminster, newly re-elected MP Derek Thomas told the Packet: "I can't comment at the moment."

Andrew George issued a statement on matters, saying: "While Theresa May reshuffles matters in her bunker, it's clear she intends the government to limp on for as long as she can cling to power. Whilst the Conservatives are hastily jettisoning manifesto promises local people have a right to know which of the DUP's many (anti-gay, anti-abortion choice, climate change scepticism, pro-creationism, links with loyalist paramilitaries) policies and beliefs are and are not shared by Conservative MPs.

"If the purpose of the election was to strengthen the Prime Minister's mandate in Brexit negotiations then she should stand down forthwith and any new Conservative leader should go back to the country to seek a fresh mandate. Theresa May is a much diminished leader and will go into negotiations next week with little credibility and severely weakened authority."