BRIGHTON Kemptown’s new MP has vowed to be a more visible presence in the constituency than his predecessor.

Labour’s Lloyd Russell-Moyle said it would “not be hard” for him to be a greater presence than Simon Kirby, who he ousted in spectacular style.

The outgoing Conservative MP had been mercilessly mocked by opponents on social media for being “Mr Invisible” during the campaign with a prize offered for the first person to spot him.

Mr Russell-Moyle said the hard work would begin on Monday and he would fight on the issue of Brexit to ensure the country retained access to the Single Market and that rights were guaranteed for EU nationals living in the UK.

His majority of almost 10,000 votes marks a meteoric rise for Mr Russell-Moyle who stood in Lewes two years ago and was only voted on to Brighton and Hove City Council in August last year.

Mr Kirby was defending a majority of just 690, the ninth smallest Conservative majority in the country and one which had been almost halved after his first full term.

There was no candidate for the Greens, who won 3,187 votes at the last election, as the party formed a progressive alliance pact aimed at ousting him.

Ukip, who won almost ten per cent of the vote share in 2015 and who had increased its vote every year it has stood since 2001, also chose not to stand in an effort to support Mr Kirby, despite him being a Remain supporter.

Mr Kirby actually marginally increased his votes on 2015 but his vote share went down with the higher turnout.

Lib Dem Emily Tester came third with 1,457 votes, an improvement of just over 100 votes on the party’s performance in 2015.

However, she still lost her deposit.

Doktor Haze, ringmaster of the touring Circus of Horrors, came fourth with 212 votes.

The Labour victory was not a great surprise but the scale of it shocked many.

It was even more impressive considering the seat had not been targeted as intensely by the party as it had been two years ago when then leader David Miliband and shadow chancellor Ed Balls made high-profile visits.

The only planned major visit, from shadow chancellor John McDonnell, was cancelled in the wake of the Manchester bombing as the Labour strategy focused on regions further north.

Mr Russell-Moyle said his win was a victory for “clear socialist policies” and that Conservatives, Greens and Ukip supporters had all decided it was time for a change and time for “Labour in Kemptown.”

A visibly disappointed Mr Kirby stormed out of the venue immediately after the result and turned down requests for an interview.

Mr Russell-Moyle said his victory was down to hard work on the doorsteps, explaining clear policies rather than just “talking in platitudes”.

He added: “Brexit came up on the doorstep but as part of an issue of how we move the country forward regardless of Brexit, despite of Brexit or because of Brexit in terms of how we build our houses, schools and hospitals, how we can build a country for all.

“People on the doorstep were telling me again and again how they felt the country had become enfeebled.

“I’m a democratic so we respect the result.

“But I was also a Remainer and so we have to get a result that works for Brighton and Britain, which means access to the Single Market, protecting the rights of people here already and making sure we are an inclusive and welcoming constituency for everybody from all over the world.”

He added that the election result signalled voters wanted an end to “nasty” and “pure personality politics” and more of the “politics of passion and hope” that leader Jeremy Corbyn and the Labour Party were proposing.