A FORMER Romsey resident who studied at Mountbatten School has been elected as the MP for Northampton South.

Labour's Mike Reader, 38, won the seat, which previously had a Tory majority of 17,363, and now has a Labour one of 3,820 – a swing of 20 per cent.

Mr Reader collected 16,890 votes, while the sitting Conservative MP, Andrew Lewer scored 12,819 and the Reform UK party came third with 8,210.

READ MORE: Former romsey man selected to stand for Labour in Northampton South

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer (Image: Liam McBurney/PA Wire)

Now, just over a year after he was selected to run for Labour, he will represent the East Midlands seat's constituents in the House of Commons.

SEE MORE: General election 2024: Romsey & Southampton North results in full

The Labour politician lived in Romsey in his early years, attending the Romsey Infants and Juniors schools before they merged into Romsey Primary School, before attending Mountbatten.

Mr Reader later went to Totton College, where he swam for Romsey and Totton, and then Loughborough University.

After graduating, he worked in construction for 15 years as a civil engineer, before becoming a proposal specialist, leading a team of 50 people across the globe.

Mike's dad, Peter Reader, 73, of Ashley Meadows, said: "We are just immensely proud, but it's rather strange. It's not something you ever anticipate happening."

"He's worked so hard and everybody I have spoken to in the constituency says the same."

According to his father, Mike is settling in to his new life in and around the House of Commons.

"He was actually up there yesterday doing his induction," said Peter. "And he says it's a completely new world to get into. There's going to be some adjustments."