BOLTON’S newest MP says he is going to drive investment into Bolton and make a tram extension to the town a “priority”.

Mark Logan won a landmark victory in Bolton North East on Thursday night, beating Sir David Crausby to put an end to his 22 years in Parliament.

The newly elected representative said he plans to build on the government’s promises to fund a Metrolink extension to the town after pledges made by transport secretary Grant Shapps and Boris Johnson in the run up the election.

When asked if the project would be going through he said: “Absolutely, I think that was a comment that was made by Grant Shapps when he visited and it’s central to what I said last night and when I’ve been talking with the media.

“We now want to put Bolton back on the map but if you want to do that you have to have that infrastructure there to take you from point A to point B on that map so this is going to be a priority.”

He added: “It was amazing the overwhelming support from the people of Bolton North East, but it’s not necessarily gobsmacking because it’s been clear from the people that we have spoken to on the doorstep that people are desperate for change.”

Mr Logan is a former diplomat who worked as head of communications at the British Consulate in Shanghai, China, and hopes he can use his skills to help drive investment in the town’s regeneration project.

“For Bolton the number one priority which I’m backing to the hilt is to drive investment into the town centre,” he said.

But, the new MP is not looking past the major issue of Britain’s exit from the EU.

He added: “It’s the reality that this election and the Conservative majority means we have to get Brexit done and we will do that by the end of January.”

David Greenhalgh, Conservative leader of Bolton Council, is hoping Mr Logan’s presence in Parliament alongside Bolton West representative Chris Green will provide more support for the authority’s plans for the town.

He hopes that more representation from his own party within the government can only benefit the council.

“It’s going to be a huge benefit to us to have two MPs in Westminster,” Cllr Greenhalgh said.

“It will help us improve the town and having a whole swathe of Northern MPs will also help us keep all this investment that’s been promised to come into the North.

“We feel as a council we can make Bolton a unique destination, placed close to Manchester and with good links to Lancashire as well.

“It’s going to be huge for us and not just on the regeneration front but we also have challenges in the town.

“Everyone can see that there are challenges with adult and children’s services, and to have MPs down there in Westminster who understand will have definitely help us.”

Meanwhile on the national stage, Jeremy Corbyn has announced he will not be the leader of the Labour Party at the next election after a devastating night for his candidates.

In addition to losing, Bolton North East, Mr Corbyn lost Leigh and both Bury seats as well as other key locations thought to be relatively safe.

Prime minister Boris Johnson declared the result an end of the “gridlock” which has stopped him from pushing policies through Parliament and said he would repay the trust of voters.

But, his opposite number has taken the crushing defeat as a sign that he must step down.

“This is obviously a very disappointing night for the Labour Party with the result that we’ve got,” Mr Corbyn said.

He went on to confirm he would be entering discussions with the party on how to ensure there was a “process of reflection” in the future.

He added: “I will lead the party during this period to ensure this discussion takes place.”

In comparison, Mr Johnson was extremely upbeat about the country’s future under his stewardship.

“We did it — we pulled it off, didn’t we? We broke the gridlock, we ended the deadlock, we smashed the roadblock,” he said in his victory speech.

“In winning this election, we have won votes and the trust of people who have never voted Conservative before and people have always voted for other parties.

“Those people want change. We cannot, must not, must not, let them down.”