Energetic slum clearance and background gun battles turned his marginal constituency into a personal fief.

ECONOMIST: Exeunt, without much glory

Philip Latham, the Lib Dems' Stockton North candidate, said Mr Cook's decision meant that Stockton North was now a marginal constituency.

BBC: Deselected Stockton MP to stand as Independent

Official figures released in a parliamentary written answer say more than half the official visits made by David Jones, Stephen Crabb and Baroness Randerson have been to this key marginal constituency.

BBC: Cardiff Central the main ministerial attraction