A tremendous reaction from the people against a very powerful government

Dr Richard Taylor on his election

He beat David Lock, a junior minister in the Lord Chancellor's department, by a resounding majority of 17,630.

Dr Taylor, who takes over as the country's only independent MP after Mr Bell failed to win re-election, said representing his constituents was the "greatest privilege you can have".

Mr Bell, who famously beat Neil Hamilton in 1997 on an anti-sleaze ticket, said Dr Taylor would be an outstanding MP and would help redress the "imperfections" of the party politics that dominate the Commons.

The former war correspondent, wearing his trademark crumpled white suit, told the new MP he should "never be afraid to ask" for advice about the mysterious ways of the Commons.

The two men attended the same school, Leys School in Cambridge.

But Dr Taylor said he was looking forward to representing the people "and no-one else", and insisted he would not be daunted as a "new boy" in parliament.

Dr Taylor: I will not be daunted.

In his acceptance speech on election night, he said: "The way I view this is as a tremendous reaction from the people against a very powerful government, against a very powerful political system that over-rides the will of the people."

Dr Taylor has indicated he would like to join a select committee where he could hold the government to account.

And he is confident he can win back some of the services lost at the Kidderminster hospital at the heart of his election campaign.

He had already received letters from senior NHS doctors who had not dared speak out before, he said.