RACHAEL Maskell was been returned as Labour MP for York Central this morning with a huge increased majority. She held on to her seat with 34,594 votes compared to 20,212 in 2015.

She increased her lead over the Tories, her nearest rival, to 18,875 compared to a lead of just 6,716 at the last poll.

This time around there were only three candidates for York Central after both the Greens and UKIP pulled their candidates.

- See York Outer results here

The two remaining candidates Ed Young, of the Conservatives got 16,019 and the Lib Dem's Nick Love got 2,475 and lost his deposit.

After her victory Ms Maskell said she had hoped to win, especially after the Tories made the seat a key target with the Prime Minister and the Chancellor heading up a list of cabinet ministers to visit the city.

Ms Maskell said it's time for Mrs May to step aside as PM.

She said: "Theresa May has got no future at all. Her campaign has been based on herself. Politics has got to be about the people. I think it's time she disappears."

When the snap election was announced in April Ms Maskell dubbed the Prime Minister "reckless" for taking the focus away from Brexit negotiations, and she redoubled that criticism today.

"I called it reckless at the time, and I think it's incredibly reckless of her to carry on with a divided party. She should stand down."

The country is now in a very vulnerable position, she added.

"The Conservatives are going to have to make their own decisions about the future of the leadership, and a lot of backbenchers are already making noises."

The MP also raised questions about the emerging deal between the DUP and the Conservatives, saying the DUP had voted with Labour more than with the Conservatives in the last Parliament.

Nothing - including a Labour minority government - should be ruled out at this stage, Ms Maskell added, and the party's strong campaign and manifesto brought hope to a lot of people.

She pledged to keep working hard as a York MP.

"I'll work hard on behalf of the people of York. Ultimately people know my position on things I care about - that everyone has the opportunity and the future that they deserve, to fight for the NHS, make sure we get the economy we need in the future, to put the money right and stop all the cuts in education which the Tories are determined to push through.

"Labour's message got out there and it was the amazing manifesto of the Labour Party and dignity with which I conducted myself that got the message across."

A much-talked-about high youth turnout made a difference in York, she added.

"Young people definitely did turn out to vote. We saw that very clearly in places like the university, and in across the country as my colleagues in Warwick and Coventry can testify."