FAREHAM'S new Conservative MP Suella Fernandes says that aspiration is her inspiration as she heads to Westminster.

The London-born lawyer, whose parents came to England from Kenya and Mauritius, was overjoyed after claiming a majority of more than 22,000.

Despite criticism from UKIP - and a Conservative Fareham Borough Councillor - that she had been "parachuted in", Ms Fernandes actually managed to increase the party's majority by more than 5,000 votes.

She cites her parents, a councillor and a housing association worker, as an inspiration, and says she aims to work with the people of Fareham.

Visibly delighted, she told the Daily Echo that she was "humbled and honoured" by the result.

She said: "It's a privilege and one that I have been blessed with.

"I think what will come first is trying to help local constituents in direct ways.

"I have met thousands of people and some have been asking me for help with particular issues.

"I'm surprised by the majority but I think it's because people in Fareham have really resonated with the positive campaign which the Conservative Part has run."

Born in Harrow and growing up in Wembley, she read law at Cambridge University and qualified as an attorney in New York City.

Ms Fernandes previously ran unsuccessful campaigns against Keith Vaz in Leicester in 2005 and cites her achievements as having fought to secure a health centre and campaigned to protect a local post office and more police.

But despite her resounding victory UKIP's Malcolm Jones vowed to win the seat at the next election after a surge took the party to second place.

After polling only 2,235 votes in 2010, Mr Jones gained 8,427 votes and said this increase was a harbinger of things to come.

Mr Jones highlighted Welborne, a planned 6,000-home community near Fareham, as an issue that voters feel strongly about.

He said: "Next year we have got council elections and we're preparing for that, and in 2017 there are Hampshire County Council elections.

"I'm not surprised at the result because at the end of the day I've had such a good reception.

"The main reason is because it's about the people, not about me."

Labour's Stuart Rose and Liberal Democrat Matthew Winnington were both disheartened by the outcome.

Mr Rose said: "I'm disappointed by the result but I have been proud to be part of the largest groundswell of Labour support that I have seen in my lifetime."

And Green Party candidate Miles Grindey, a 20-year-old Itchen College student, hailed the result as a game changer for the constituency.

He said: "I want to make it clear that the result here is phenomenal and is the beginning of a new era for Fareham.

"This is not the last you have seen of me or the Green Party."