Diane Abbott claims Labour's General Election campaign has been vindicated as she gets huge Hackney North victory

'Vindicated': Diane Abbott with Jeremy Corbyn
AFP/Getty Images
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Diane Abbott said Labour's positive campaign had been "vindicated" after defying her critics to claim her biggest ever majority in Hackney North.

The big question on everybody's lips in east London was whether the long standing MP would make even make it to the count after illness forced her to temporarily step down as Shadow Home Secretary.

But in the early hours it was confirmed she had claimed a 35,139 vote majority on her Tory rival Amy Ryan.

It came after a bitter campaign which clearly took its toll on Ms Abbott, forcing her to withdraw from the limelight after fluffing several crucial media appearances in the run up to the election.

In her victory speech, she said: "The Conservative Party fought a campaign characterised by the politics of personal destruction.

"And yet the British people have seen past that and in Hackney they have responded to Labour's positive campaign that addresses the issues whether it be the NHS, the housing crisis or the benefit cuts.

“We have fought a positive campaign and we have been vindicated.

"They said if we fought this campaign on a progressive manifesto we would be swept away by a Tory landslide.

"They said if we fought this election under the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn we would be annihilated.

"But I am proud to say that the British people of all ages, classes, creeds and colours have rallied to a positive message and the leadership of Jeremy Corbyn."

Labour Leader Jeremy Corbyn with fans at a count
Reuters

Conservative candidate Amy Smart expressed her disgust at the "Corbyn effect" after pupils at Tyssen Primary Community school drew hammers and sickles on election day posters for voters to see as they entered the polling station.

She said: "Teachers should not be showing their children the hammer and sickle. This is the symbol of a murderous ideology that's killed millions of people.

“We didn't have this at the last election it is under Jeremy Corbyn's leadership that has brought all of this back. He is not fit to be leader of this country.

"My father spent 30 years in the army and the IRA tried to kill him and Jeremy Corbyn stood by these men he is not fit to be Prime Minister.

“I think Theresa May is the only candidate worthy of being Prime Minister and I hope she still will be after all this is over but anything can happen."

A buzz was felt filtering through the Labour stronghold as the early exit polls were announced as the smaller parties became bullish at their chances of a "progressive" coalition with Labour as Conservative hopes of a "strong and stable" government crumbled.

Green Party candidate Alistair Binnie-Hullock, who brought his own soya milk to the backstage tea area, said he would be "delighted" to push the Conservatives into third or even fourth place in the borough.

Independent candidate for South Hackney and Shoreditch Hugo Suggs, 26, is one of the stories of the election after crowdfunding his campaign on improving conditions for the area's homeless people.

Hackney has more families living in homeless hostels than anywhere else in London, at more than twice the level of any other borough.

He himself was made homeless aged 18 but said his mum's belief in him gave him the strength to stand.

He said: "So many people said I couldn't do this. Since I was made homeless I managed to get through university and now I'm here. Just because something bad happens in your life you can't let it define you. It's a hurdle you have to jump over rather than a lifestyle you belong to."

Liberal Democrat candidate for Hackney North and Stoke Newington Joe Richards said: "Judging by the second half of Theresa May's campaign that didn't go very well I don't think she really wanted to be Prime Minister of this country for the next five years, so I think she will be relieved."

General Election Night 2017 - In pictures

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