Twigg defeated in Enfield Southgate

Education minister Stephen Twigg has been defeated as the Tories begin reversing some of the gains made by Labour under Tony Blair.

Twigg, the man who delivered one of the major upsets of the 1997 election, was defeated in his north London seat by Conservative David Burrowes by 1,747 votes.

A large increase in Liberal Democrat votes appears to have cost Labour the constituency.

The defeat is a blow to Labour in London, and signals the Conservatives are clawing their way back.

The former think tank chief, who ousted Michael Portillo to take Enfield Southgate for Labour, was returned with an increased majority of 4,103 votes in the 2001 election.

Twigg's majority in 1997 was 1,433. His victory in that general election was one of the defining moments of the campaign.

Since then he has risen up the ministerial ladder, being appointed minister of state for school standards in December last year.

Labour also lost another rising ministerial star in Shipley.

Constitutional affairs minister Christopher Leslie, a favourite of Tony Blair, failed to hold onto his 1,428 majority despite a series of prime ministerial visits.