
How Boris's week in Westminster shapes up TODAY: Boris Johnson has held the first meeting of his new Cabinet. The Speaker has been formally elected in the Commons - with Lindsay Hoyle installed without a vote. Mr Johnson and his defeated opponent Jeremy Corbyn have come face to face for the first time since the voters delivered their verdict. The process of swearing in all 650 MPs - apart from Sinn Fein who don't take their seats - is beginning, and will take two days. THURSDAY: Queen's Speech sets out the government's legislative programme. FRIDAY: The Commons sits formally and the government will put forward the EU Withdrawal Bill for its second reading vote. Advertisement

Boris Johnson and Jeremy Corbyn came face to face today for the first time since the Tory election triumph - with the PM taunting that Parliament is 'vastly improved'.

As Parliament officially reconvened after the bombshell result, Mr Johnson was cheered to the rafters by his newly-swelled gang of MPs.

By contrast, Mr Corbyn was jeered as he entered - having been humiliated by voters last Thursday.

The two leaders endured an awkward walk side-by-side through Central Lobby to the Lords, where the Queen's instruction for Parliament to start sitting was read out.

Neither seemed to make any attempt to strike up conversation, after making clear their contempt for each other during the brutal campaign.

When they returned, Lindsay Hoyle was formally confirmed in the Speaker's chair without a vote.

And an elated Mr Johnson then said that 'democracy' had taken charge and the House could finally 'get Brexit done'

'I think this Parliament is a vast improvement on its predecessor,' he said.

'This Parliament is not going to waste the time of the nation in deadlock and delay.'

As he repeated the mantra of 'get Brexit done' that helped secure his stunning poll victory, Tory MPs chanted along with him.

In his own downbeat speech, Mr Corbyn said his job was still to hold the government to 'account'.

'The PM made many many promises and he must take responsibility to live up to them,' he said.

'He will be judged on whether he keeps these promises by the communities he made them to,'

Boris Johnson hailed the 'vastly improved' Houses of Parliament today as he was cheered to the rafters by Tories in the Commons chamber

The two leaders then walked awkwardly side-by-side through Central Lobby to the Lords, where the Queen's instructions to start sitting was read out

Mr Johnson was congratulated by fellow MPs as he returned to the chamber for the first time since his election win - as Mr Corbyn looked stonily on

Mr Johnson was hailed as he took his seat on the frontbench, as MPs awaited the first sitting since the Tories secured an historic 80-strong majority

Neither Mr Johnson nor Mr Corbyn seemed to make any effort to strike up conversation as they crossed from the Commons to the Lords this afternoon

As Parliament officially reconvened after the bombshell election, Mr Johnson said that 'democracy' had taken charge and the House could finally 'get Brexit done'

The Father of the House, Sir Peter Bottomley, presided over the process.

He assumed the mantle of the MP with longest continuous service due to left-wing firebrand Dennis Skinner being humiliatingly ousted in Bolsover as the Tories smashed Labour's 'Red Wall' of northern heartlands.

MPs will start being sworn in this afternoon - a process that will take two days.

Earlier, Mr Johnson gathered his new 'people's Cabinet' after sending an emphatic message to Brussels that he will not countenance any further delays to Brexit.

The PM and his top team met in Downing Street after it was revealed that withdrawal legislation is being amended to rule out any extension of the transition period beyond December 2020.

Mr Johnson said the Tory victory in the election was 'seismic' and he was determined to lead a 'people's government'.

'The voters of this country have changed this government and our party for the better, and we must repay their trust now to change our country for the better,' he said.

He added: 'You ain't seen nothing yet.'

Mr Johnson carried out a few tweaks to his Cabinet last night, appointing Simon Hart to fill the gap at Welsh Secretary and elevating Nicky Morgan to the Lords so she could continue as Culture Secretary despite standing down from the Commons.

However, a much deeper overhaul of the government is being plotted for February, with suggestions a third of senior ministerial posts could be axed to streamline decision-making.

The premier told ministers they should have 'no embarrassment about saying we are a people's government and this is a people's Cabinet'.

The meeting came after Mr Johnson moved to scotch speculation that he could embrace a softer Brexit in the wake of his election landslide.

After the Speaker has been installed in the chair, MPs will start being sworn in - a process that will take two days

Boris Johnson told his Cabinet this morning that the Tory victory in the election was 'seismic' and he was determined to lead a 'people's government'

Pictured left to right around the table (not all are visible): Housing minister Esther McVey; security minister Brandon Lewis; Tory chairman James Cleverly; Welsh Secretary Simon Hart; Education Secretary Gavin Williamson; Trade Secretary Liz Truss; Health Secretary Matt Hancock; Cabinet Secretary Sir Mark Sedwill; PM Boris Johnson; Chancellor Sajid Javid; Environment Secretary Therese Coffey; Housing Secretary Robert Jenrick; Transport Secretary Grant Shapps; Scottish Secretary Alister Jack; Culture Secretary Baroness Morgan; Treasury Chief Secretary Rishi Sunak; Chief Whip Mark Spencer; Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg; International Development Secretary Alok Sharma; Leader of the Lords Baroness Evans; Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom; Brexit Secretary Steve Barclay; Brexit minister Michael Gove; Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab; Home Secretary Priti Patel; Defence Secretary Ben Wallace; Justice Secretary Robert Buckland; Attorney General Geoffrey Cox; Cabinet Office minister Oliver Dowden; Business minister Kwasi Kwarteng; Northern Powerhouse minister Jake Berry.

There was laughter in the Cabinet meeting this morning as Mr Johnson joked that they 'might recognise' the new Culture Secretary Nicky Morgan (pictured centre) - who was meant to be retiring at the election but has now taken a peerage and stayed in government

BORIS HAILS 'VASTLY IMRPOVED PARLIMAENT' AS HE GETS BACK TO BUSINESS - AND BREXIT Boris Johnson has insisted voters have returned 'one of the best Parliaments this country has ever produced', as he rebuffed calls for Scottish independence and appealed for unity. The Prime Minister marked the return of MPs to the Commons by hailing the new Parliament as a 'vast improvement' on its predecessor. He said this was due to its diversity and also because it was 'not going to waste the time of the nation' over Brexit, with the Withdrawal Agreement Bill expected to be brought back on Friday. He told the Commons: 'I'm sure the whole House will join me in sending our condolences to the families of Jack Merritt and Saskia Jones, murdered in the terrorist attack near London Bridge during the election campaign. 'And we pay tribute once again to the emergency services and the members of the public for the bravery they showed.' Mr Johnson then congratulated Sir Lindsay Hoyle on his re-election as Speaker, before saying: 'Mr Speaker, I don't know what you think, but I mean absolutely no disrespect to those who are no longer with us but I think that this Parliament is a vast improvement on its predecessor. 'Mr Speaker, I would say it is one of the best Parliaments that this country has ever produced, with more female members than ever before, more black and minority ethnic members than ever before, and it is also Mr Speaker, and incarnated in your person Mr Speaker, it is a vastly more democratic Parliament. Because this Parliament is not going to waste the time of the nation in deadlock and division and delay, on Friday of this week this Parliament is going to put the Withdrawal Agreement in the popty ping as we say in Wales, and then this new democratic Parliament, this people's Parliament is going to do something, Mr Speaker. 'I wonder if you can guess what it is that this Parliament is going to do when we put the Withdrawal Agreement back. We're going to get Brexit done.' After his call for the Speaker to repeat his Brexit slogan, Mr Johnson joked: 'Even your parrot, Mr Speaker, would have been able to cite that one by now.' The PM repeated campaign pledges on the NHS, education and police before telling the House: 'It's my belief most honourable members in this House believe we should resist the calls of those who would break up the United Kingdom. 'And as the Parliament of the United Kingdom, we should politely and respectfully defend that partnership and that union. 'I can tell the House that after three-and-a-half years of wrangling and division, we in this Government will do whatever we can to reach out across the House to find common ground, to heal the divisions of our country and to find a new and generous spirit in which we conduct all our political dealings with one another that will last beyond this immediate season of Christmas goodwill.' Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn rose to muted cheers and also began by remembering the London Bridge terror attack. He added: 'I'd like to offer my congratulations to the Prime Minister on winning the election and being returned to office and I want to pay tribute to those members from my party particularly who sadly lost their seats in the election and therefore will not be here - there are many we remember, but obviously Dennis Skinner is somebody that comes very much to mind on this occasion.' Mr Corbyn also said: 'The Prime Minister in the campaign made many, many promises and therefore has tremendous responsibilities to live up to. 'He will be judged on whether he keeps those promises or not by the communities that he has made them to.' He said Labour's job will be to hold the Government to account, before urging Sir Lindsay to defend democracy which, the Opposition leader warned, 'is not a given'. SNP Westminster leader Ian Blackford said his party's 'expanded' group welcomed Sir Lindsay to his role, noting: 'These are uncertain and challenging times, the public are now looking at this place for leadership.' Sir Jeffrey Donaldson (Lagan Valley), speaking on behalf of the DUP, said: 'As the Prime Minister takes forward his proposals on Brexit, we want to ensure that Northern Ireland's place in the United Kingdom is secured and the economic and political and constitutional integrity of the United Kingdom is respected.' Advertisement

His official spokesman said he would insist on a 'Canada-style free trade agreement with no political alignment' – abandoning the closer ties planned by Theresa May.

And parliament will lose its veto over the negotiating mandate Mr Johnson will take into next year's trade talks.

The tough line cast a dampener on the 'Boris Bounce' that has seen markets surge in the wake of the Tory landslide.

The Pound lost ground against the US dollar and euro this morning, while the FTSE 100 stalled - reflecting fears that a full trade deal might not be ready in time for the end of the 'standstill' period when the UK will still be within EU rules.

The phrase 'you ain't seen nothing yet' was famously used by US president Ronald Reagan in the 1980s - although he was responding to a political setback in the Senate, in contrast to the extraordinary political win Mr Johnson has achieved.

One of the loudest cheers of the meeting was for Nicky Morgan, who returns to her role as Culture Secretary despite leaving the Commons.

Welcoming her back to Cabinet, Mr Johnson called her 'a face you may recognise', sparking laughter from the room.

The ministers appeared to be in high spirits during the open part of the meeting.

They banged on the long green table four times during the short introduction and laughed along with the Prime Minister.

Mr Johnson said that while his previous government was busy, this term will be even more so.

He said: 'The first 100 days were very busy, 140 days or what ever it was, you may remember it was a very frenetic time, but you ain't seen nothing yet folks.'

The first cabinet meeting, taking place eight days before Christmas, included a panto-style call and response on key manifesto promises.

The Prime Minister said: 'How many new hospitals are we going to build?'

'40,' the ministers replied.

Mr Johnson said: 'Correct. How many more nurses are we going to hire?'

'50,000,' they said again.

'You know the answers,' Mr Johnson replied. 'How many more police?'

'20,000,' the Cabinet said in unison.

The Prime Minister said that he risked 'sounding more North Korean than normal' when telling the cabinet about new figures on unemployment, released by the Office of National Statistics on Tuesday morning.

But he had to correct himself after fluffing his lines.

'I'm proud to say today that Saj (Chancellor Sajid Javid) has just passed me some, at the risk of sounding more North Korean than normal, Saj has passed me some good economic news that unemployment is up again - employment is up again and unemployment is down.'

Earlier, Brexit minister Michael Gove played down the prospects of the UK leaving without a full trade agreement at the end of the transition period.

'We are going to leave the European Union on 31 January because of the Withdrawal Agreement,' he told BBC Breakfast.

'And then the political declaration, which goes alongside the withdrawal agreement, commits both sides to making sure that the follow-up conversations are concluded by the end of 2020.'

Asked if the UK could end up on limited World Trade Organisation terms, he said: 'No. We are going to make sure we get this deal done in time.'

Pushed on the issue again he said: 'We will get a deal and the political declaration commits both sides to that.'

Mr Johnson posed with 109 newly-elected Conservative MPs in Parliament last night as the surging Tories flexed their muscles and the Prime Minister started to shape his new administration.

A Downing Street source said the Withdrawal Agreement Bill would 'legally prohibit the Government from agreeing any extension' to the transition, which takes effect once the exit legislation is passed.

It means that the transition period – during which free movement and EU laws continue to operate – will definitely end in December 2020.

The agreement struck with the EU left wriggle room on the end date of the implementation phase, and that was reflected in the previous text of the legislation. In part that was because Mr Johnson needed the broadest possible support among MPs to have a hope of getting the Bill through.

Geoffrey Cox (left) and Esther McVey (centre) were among the ministers in Downing Street for Cabinet today. The PM's maverick aide Dominic Cummings (right) was at work today as the government ramped up its Brexit stance

However, the Tory majority of 80 in the wake of the election means there is no danger that the government will struggle to get its tougher version through.

The move is designed to show Brussels that the PM will not soften his stance when trade talks begin next year.

Michel Barnier, the EU's chief negotiator, has warned that securing a complete deal by next December is unrealistic. EU sources yesterday said only a 'bare bones' agreement could be nailed down by then – leaving some sectors facing 'partial No Deal' terms.

The latest moves are designed to end speculation in Brussels that, cushioned by his 80-seat majority, Mr Johnson will now turn his back on Eurosceptic MPs and adopt a softer approach to Brexit.

A No 10 source said: 'Within a couple of hours of the exit poll last week, there were people in Brussels briefing that we would extend the implementation period and go for a high-alignment model.

'The reality is that the PM wants a Canada-style free trade agreement, with the freedom to diverge where it suits our economy. And he has given a binding commitment on the campaign trail that we are not extending.

'People in Brussels need to process that and schedule the talks and their expectations accordingly.'

The implementation period is due to run until the end of December 2020. It is designed to secure a smooth switchover, giving business time to prepare.

A loophole negotiated by Mrs May allows the UK to extend the transition period up until the end of December 2022 to allow more time to complete trade talks.

It was retained in Mr Johnson's deal in the autumn but he has always insisted that he had no intention of using it.

Ministers had pledged to give MPs a vote next summer on whether to extend the transition period. But sources said this provision had been removed from the withdrawal legislation and replaced with a clause specifically ruling out an extension.

Senior Tories are stressing Mr Johnson is not pursuing the kind of 'high alignment' deal envisioned by Mrs May, which would have seen the UK follow EU rules on goods in return for frictionless trade.

Michael Gove says there WILL be a post-Brexit trade deal in place by the end of 2020 Michael Gove did a round of broadcast interviews today Michael Gove today insisted there will be a post-Brexit trade deal in place by the end of next year - as the PM flatly dismissed any extension to the transition period. Legislation being put before Parliament this week will set a hard end date for 'standstill' phase where the UK is still subject to EU rules, killing off speculation it could be kept in place for years longer. But the tough line has put a dampener on the 'Boris Bounce' that has seen markets surge in the wake of the Tory election landslide. The Pound lost ground against the US dollar and euro today, while the FTSE 100 stalled - reflecting fears that a comprehensive trade deal might not be ready within 12 months. In a round of broadcast interviews, Brexit minister Mr Gove played down the prospects of the UK emerging without a final package. 'We are going to leave the European Union on 31 January because of the Withdrawal Agreement,' he told BBC Breakfast. 'And then the political declaration, which goes alongside the withdrawal agreement, commits both sides to making sure that the follow-up conversations are concluded by the end of 2020.' Advertisement

Instead, he is seeking a comprehensive free trade deal, where both sides keep barriers to trade at a minimum but reserve the right to diverge on regulations in certain sectors.

A No 10 source said: 'We will determine the areas where we want to align with the EU.

'There may well be areas where we want to, but it will be our decision.'

Former Brexit secretary David Davis told BBC Radio Four's Today programme: 'Boris himself does want to diverge.

'We both resigned from Theresa May's cabinet because we wanted divergence.'

Mr Davis said he would not expect to see divergence in sectors like the car industry, where global standards operate.

But he said it was vital to break with Brussels in the growth areas such as big data.

A senior EU official said: 'You could get a partial or basic deal done but it would be hugely damaging to the British economy, because you'll be leaving on a partial No Deal.

'Which sectors will obviously depend on what bits we can agree on before December 2020, but it can't all be done.

'We have heard Mr Johnson say things before that he hasn't followed through on, so I think we will wait and see if the transition period is extended.'

Brussels is said to be keen to extend the transition period and is considering offering a discount on the UK's £10billion annual membership fee as a lure.

The PM met with the cohort of fresh-faced MPs in Westminster Hall in a show of strength to their opponents after the Conservatives sensationally succeeded at redrawing the UK's political map at the election last week.

The mass of MPs stood behind Mr Johnson showed just how much his fortunes have changed with the PM now in control of 365 seats in the House of Commons and a majority of 80.

He will now be able to deliver on his 'Get Brexit Done' mantra and take the UK out of the EU by January 31.

Downing Street today announced that MPs will be asked to vote on the PM's Brexit deal on Friday so that the process of delivering an orderly departure from Brussels can begin before Christmas and can then be finalised next month.

Meanwhile, Mr Johnson tonight moved to shore up his top team as he handed Nicky Morgan a life peerage to allow her to continue as Culture Secretary as he also appointed Simon Hart to be his new Welsh Secretary.

Mrs Morgan stepped down as an MP at the election but Downing Street said this evening she would be made a peer in the House of Lords which will allow her to continue in the Cabinet.

Meanwhile, Mr Hart, previously a junior minister at the Cabinet Office, will fill the position vacated by Alun Cairns who resigned at the start of the election campaign over claims he knew a Conservative candidate had sabotaged a rape trial.

The two announcements mean Mr Johnson now has a full slate of secretary of states in his new administration.

The PM has decided not to make any further changes to his Cabinet, keeping his powder dry for a major shake-up after Brexit which could see up to a third of existing ministers axed along with a major overhaul of Whitehall departments.

There was a jubilant mood in Cabinet as Mr Johnson and his ministers got back down to work in Downing Street today

New Welsh Secretary Simon Hart (left) leaves Cabinet with Scottish Secretary Alister Jack (centre) and Tory chairman James Cleverly. Chancellor Sajid Javid (right) was also in good spirits as he left the meeting

Jeremy Corbyn looked glum as he left his London home today amid the fallout from his election drubbing

Mrs Morgan's elevation to the upper chamber means junior culture ministers will be tasked with representing the government in the House of Commons.

The move by Number 10 to make Mrs Morgan a peer sparked a furious reaction from some Labour MPs who said the decision 'stinks' and represents 'two fingers up to democracy'.

'Boris Bounce' stalls as PM vows Brexit transition will NOT be extended Sterling lost ground against the US dollar today as markets digested Boris Johnson's strong message that the Brexit transition will not be extended The post-election 'Boris Bounce' stalled today after the PM vowed the Brexit transition period will not be extended - even if a full trade deal is not ready. The pound dipped after it emerged that the premier is rewriting his EU Withdrawal Bill to rule out any further delay. The value of sterling was down a cent against the dollar this morning to 1.32, and it also lost ground against the euro. After days of surging following the Tory landslide, the FTSE 100 was also becalmed. The pause came after Mr Johnson sent an emphatic signal to Brussels that he will not countenance any further delays to Brexit. Advertisement

The appointment of Mrs Morgan and Mr Hart came after Mr Johnson vowed to bring back his Brexit divorce deal for MPs to vote on at the end of this week as he looks to hit the ground running after his election victory.

The premier's new 'people's government' will immediately start work on implementing key campaign pledges on tougher border controls, extra cash for the NHS and a big infrastructure boost for the north of England.

Mr Johnson insisted during the election campaign that he wanted to make Brexit progress before Christmas and Downing Street has identified Friday as the day to make that happen.

The plan is to re-introduce the Withdrawal Agreement Bill and then ask MPs to vote to give it a second reading with the rest of the legislative stages then taking place in January.

A much bigger reshuffle in February is also expected to coincide with a big shake-up of Whitehall.

Tory sources say the PM is considering splitting up the Home Office to create a new Department for Borders and Immigration to deliver on his pledge to cut the number of low-skilled migrants coming to the UK.

The new department will focus on putting in place an Australian-style points-based immigration system and toughening up the UK's borders – leaving the Home Office to focus on the fight against crime.

A number of other Whitehall departments are also expected to be overhauled to make the government 'match fit' for Brexit.

The PM's top aide Dominic Cummings, who was pictured arriving in Downing Street this morning in one of his now trademark casual outfits, will play a key role in the shake-up of the machinery of government.

Mr Johnson will use a £100billion infrastructure fund to reward voters in the Midlands and the North who voted Conservative for the first time.

His strategy of 'Boosterism' will involve pumping cash into neglected regions in an attempt to increase opportunity.

Other measures will include longer sentences for terrorists and serious criminals, laws to limit the impact of strikes in the public sector and measures to end no-fault evictions for renters – addressing day-to-day concerns of voters.

Commuters using Northern Rail and South West Trains have been hit by damaging strikes this year. A new Minimum Service Agreement Bill would force unions to guarantee a certain level of services – probably 50 per cent – to reduce the impact on commuters.

ANDREW PIERCE: The Tories' latest cohort couldn't provide a better portrait of contemporary Britain

Among the wave of 109 new Tory MPs who demolished Labour's 'Red Wall', there isn't a single Old Etonian in sight. Instead, the Tories' latest cohort couldn't provide a better portrait of contemporary Britain...

Youngest Tory MP

Sara Britcliffe, 24

Constituency: Hyndburn, majority of 2,951.

Family: Her victory was sweet revenge for her father Peter, who twice tried and failed to win the constituency for the Tories.

Education: Modern languages graduate from Manchester University

Occupation: Used to run a sandwich shop.

Fun fact: The Tories' youngest MP, at the age of 22 she took a gap year from university to be the youngest Mayoress in the country – when she officiated by the side of her father, a councillor for more than 30 years, in Hyndburn.

The 109 new Tory MPs with Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Numbered from 1-11 are Sara Britcliffe, Jonathan Gullis, Chris Loder, Imran Ahmad Khan, Aaron Bell, Mark Fletcher, Elliot Colburn, Lee Anderson, Antony Higginbotham, Dehenna Davison and Virginia Crosbie

Trade union rep

Jonathan Gullis, 29

Constituency: Stoke-on-Trent North, majority of 6,286. First Tory MP since the constituency was created in 1950.

Family: Father was a cleaner at the local school who went to night school and ended up at Durham University gaining a Masters degree. His grandfather was a lorry driver.

Education: Local state school. Joined Tory Party aged 18.

Occupation: Birmingham secondary school teacher. Unusually for a Tory, he is the school's trade union representative.

Fun fact: Hours after being made an MP, he rushed back to the classroom to teach his pupils.

Former rail guard

Chris Loder, 38

Constituency: West Dorset, majority of 14,106 and a swing of 4.5 per cent.

Family: Grew up on a fourth-generation family farm in Dorset where he still lives.

Education: Attended the local state comprehensive and never went to university.

Occupation: Worked as a train guard and eventually became head of new trains at South Western Railway.

A member of the RMT union, he crossed a picket line last month to try to keep South Western trains running.

Fun fact: Is a church organist and church bell ringer.

The mass of MPs stood behind Mr Johnson showed just how much his fortunes have changed with the PM now in control of 365 seats in the House of Commons

The openly gay Muslim

Imran Ahmad Khan, 47

Constituency: Wakefield, majority of 3,358. The first time the constituency has voted Tory since 1931.

Family: His father was a doctor, his mother an NHS nurse.

Education: Privately educated, he studied Russian at the Pushkin Institute in Moscow and War Studies at King's College London.

Occupation: Worked for the United Nations, advertising agency M&C Saatchi and as a counter-terrorism expert.

Fun fact: As a late replacement candidate, he was accused by Labour of being parachuted into Wakefield. The local lad's response? By literally parachuting in.

TV quiz show winner

Aaron Bell, 39

Constituency: Newcastle-under-Lyme, majority of 7,446. First time Labour has relinquished the seat in more than 130 years.

Family: Married with three children.

Education: St Olave's grammar school, Kent. Then studied Politics, Philosophy and Economics at Oxford.

Occupation: Business analyst who launched a financial technology firm.

Fun fact: He is a brainiac who has appeared on various TV quiz shows and walked away with £25,000 on Deal or No Deal. Reached the University Challenge final in 2001.

The LGBT activist

Mark Fletcher, 34

Constituency: Bolsover, majority of 5,299. Defeated Dennis Skinner, the so-called Beast of Bolsover, 87, the MP since 1970.

Family: Grew up in Doncaster. Lived on his own after his mother died when he was 17. Outspoken LGBT activist who met his partner at university.

Education: Went to a local state school and was president of the Cambridge University Students' Union for two years.

Occupation: Worked for a private health company and as chief adviser to Lord Popat of Harrow.

Fun fact: Helped write a book called: 'A British Subject. How to make it as an immigrant in the best country in the world.'

The PM met with the cohort of fresh-faced MPs in Westminster Hall in a show of strength to their opponents after last week's election landslide

Campaigning since 13

Elliot Colburn, 27

Constituency: Carshalton and Wallington, majority of 629.

Family: Brought up by working class parents in the area. After enduring homophobic abuse during the campaign, he delivered a smacker of a kiss on the lips of his partner Jed at the count.

Education: Local comprehensive and studied politics at Aberystwyth University. Knocked on his first door for the Tories aged 13.

Occupation: Public affairs officer for the NHS.

Fun fact: His partner edits a poultry magazine and they regularly take their own poultry to shows.

Joined miners' strike

Lee Anderson, 52

Constituency: Ashfield, majority of 5,733. The second time the constituency has ever had a Tory MP.

Family: Son of a coal miner. His wife Sinead was subjected to abuse by hard-Left activists, despite undergoing a double lung transplant on the NHS.

Education. Attended the local state school.

Occupation: A miner for 12 years, he was a member of Arthur Scargill's National Union of Mineworkers and went on strike in 1984. Later worked in homeless hostels before becoming office manager for the Labour MP Gloria De Piero. Frustrated with Labour's Brexit stance, he quit last year and joined the Tories.

Fun fact: Caught staging a doorstep encounter while on the campaign trail with Michael Crick for Mail Plus.

Prime Minister Boris Johnson addresses newly-elected Conservative MPs at the Houses of Parliament today after winning his huge majority

Trained in army cadets

Antony Higginbotham, 30

Constituency: Burnley, majority of 1,352. First Tory MP in the town since 1910.

Family: Grandmother was a nurse and his mother was a trade union representative. Father held two jobs to try to make ends meet. Single and openly gay.

Education: Local state school and the first of his family to go to university. Studied politics at Hull.

Occupation: Worked in the NHS and then joined NatWest to help customers prepare for life after the EU.

Fun fact: Claims his political outlook was inspired by his time in Lancashire's Army Cadet Force.

Father killed in a pub fight

Dehenna Davison, 26

Constituency: Bishop Auckland, majority of 7,962. First time seat has been represented by the Tories since it was created in 1885.

Family: Grew up on a council estate in Sheffield. Her father, a stone mason, was killed by a blow to the head in a pub fight when she was 13. She is separated from her husband John Fareham, who is 35 years her senior. They appeared last year in a Channel 4 documentary, Bride and Prejudice, about couples overcoming opposition from family and friends to their marriage.

Education: Privately educated at Sheffield High School after winning a scholarship. Studied politics at Hull University.

Occupation: Former computer game shop worker who spent a year working for Commons leader Jacob Rees-Mogg.

Fun fact: Has a tattoo of her dog mocked up as a Harry Potter character.

The dolphin trainer

Virginia Crosbie, 50

Constituency: Ynys Mon, majority of 1,968. First Tory in the constituency since 1979.

Family: Grandfather was a coal miner in Merthyr Tydfil. Mother worked in a jam factory in Essex. Married with three children.

Education: Colchester County High, a grammar school, becoming first person in her family to take A-levels. Studied microbiology at Queen Mary, University of London, and management at the University of Westminster.

Occupation: Worked for a pharmaceutical company before moving to HSBC. Retrained as a maths teacher working with young adults in north London.

Fun fact: Worked as a dolphin trainer at Woburn Safari Park with the presenter Terry Nutkins on the BBC's Animal Magic show.