Labour pulled off a shock victory in the formerly impregnable Conservative stronghold of Canterbury, prizing the seat from Tory control for the first time since 1918.

Reports of long queues outside polling stations at Kent University suggest strong student support contributed to the 20 per cent increase in share of the vote that secured the constituency for Labour by 187 votes.

The result removes veteran incumbent Sir Julian Brazier, a former SAS reservist who served as a defence minister under David Cameron and has held the seat since 1987.

The ardent Brexiteer was defeated by single mother of two Rosie Duffield, who campaigned on affordable housing, rent controls and “saving” Kent and Canterbury Hospital.

Ms Duffield, who has previously attended anti-fox hunting protests and demonstrated alongside animal rights group PETA, may have benefited from urban opposition to Theresa May’s supportive comments on the country sport.

Even during the height of Labour’s electoral success under Tony Blair, Sir Julian was able to defend the seat with a majorities never smaller than 2,000.

Ms Duffield said she was shocked but excited and added: "I can't wait to get on with the job."

The Conservatives said there was a strong student movement on social media with 8,000 new voter registrations in the area.