One of the most high profile new MPs is the chancellor's aide Ed Balls, who won the ultra-safe seat of Normanton.

Balls, who is married to Labour MP Yvette Cooper, is tipped as a possible future chancellor and will be hoping for rapid progress through the ministerial ranks.

Former Treasury special adviser Ed Miliband won for Labour in Doncaster North. Miliband joined the Treasury in May 1997 as special adviser to the chancellor.

He then went on sabbatical, teaching at Harvard University from July 2002 to February 2004, becoming chairman of the Council of Economic Advisers upon his return.

The chancellor's spin doctor Ian Austin also begins a parliamentary career, with Dudley North remaining a Labour seat.

A controversial figure, his blunt style has made him enemies within the Westminster press lobby.

Blairite newcomers

A series of Blairite advisers also begin parliamentary careers on Friday.

Pat McFadden, a key member of the Downing Street team, was elected in Wolverhampton South East.

An accomplished behind the scenes fixer, McFadden is a straight-talking Scot likely to be rewarded with ministerial office, possibly in the whips office, early in this parliament.

Kitty Ussher, a former aide to trade secretary Patricia Hewitt, secured Burnley for Labour, a seat once tipped as a potential parliamentary launch pad for Alastair Campbell.

However, the sister of a leading special adviser also lost out in her bid for election.

Isabel Owen, sister of Jack Straw?s long-serving aide Ed Owen, was defeated in the marginal Forest of Dean seat.

Tory hopefuls

The Conservatives also saw some rising stars elected to the Commons this week.

Times journalist Michael Gove comfortably won safe seat of Surrey Heath. Gove is seen as a moderniser on the socially progressive wing of the party.

Another Conservative moderniser, Oxford educated Ed Vaizey, was set to be elected in the safe Tory seat of Wantage. The son of a Labour peer, Vaizey is tipped for early promotion.

Three Tories linked to former party leader Iain Duncan Smith also sought to make it to the House of Commons.

Mike Penning, the former fireman turned spin doctor, won the marginal Hemel Hempstead.

But Vanessa Gearson, who was instrumental in Duncan Smith's downfall, lost Cheltenham to the Liberal Democrats.

As a deputy director of the Conservative Party, Gearson broke ranks to accuse Duncan Smith is misusing his parliamentary office cost allowance to fund a salary for his wife.

Another controversial Tory candidate is Mark McGregor, the right-winger who was drafted into Conservative Central Office by the Duncan Smith.

McGregor, who fought the Thanet South seat, narrowly lost to Labour.

He was chairman of the Federation of Conservative Students when party chairman Norman Tebbit was forced to wind the organisation up following reports it had been infiltrated by the far-right.

Lib Dems

For the Lib Dems, several notable Cowley Street figures were hoping to make it Westminster.

David Walter, the former BBC journalist turned Lib Dem media chief, lost the marginal Devon West and Torridge constituency.

Susan Kramer, the London lawyer who sought the mayoralty against Ken Livingstone, retained Jenny Tonge's seat of Richmond Park.

Jeremy Browne, a former aide to Paddy Ashdown, made it to Westminster - after a hand-to-hand fight with Conservative Adrian Flook in the Tory marginal of Taunton.

Meanwhile in David Davis's Haltemprice and Howden constituency, Jon Neal, a former Lib Dem researcher, put up a strong fight but failed in his election bid.