BORIS Johnson has arrived in Hartlepool after the Conservatives stunning election victory.

In a thumping result, the Conservatives took the seat – which had been Labour-held since it was formed in 1974 – with a majority of 6,940. 

The PM hailed the outcome as “very encouraging” as the Conservatives appeared poised to make further gains in council elections across England.

To mark the victory, he visited the town with the new Tory MP for Hartlepool, Jill Mortimer, who gained 15,529 votes – more than half the total cast – with Labour’s Dr Paul Williams trailing on 8,589.

In her victory speech, Ms Mortimer said the result – overturning a Labour majority of more than 3,500 at the 2019 general election – was “truly historic”.

The PM said the UK is now reaping the benefits of the decision to leave the European Union.

Speaking in Hartlepool following his party’s by-election triumph, he said: “This is a place that voted for Brexit. We got Brexit done and then we are able to do other things thanks to that.

“It’s thanks to Brexit that we have been able to go ahead with the freeport in the whole of Teesside, do things like take back control of our borders.

“We are able to deal with things like the European Super League and, of course, we are able to do things a bit differently when it comes to the vaccine rollout that has been so important and enabled (us) to deliver that faster than other European countries.”