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Tories hold David Cameron's former seat Witney by-election: Tory majority slashed in David Cameron's former seat
(35 minutes later)
The Conservatives have held ex-PM David Cameron's former seat of Witney, but with a majority reduced by more than 20,000 votes. The Conservatives have held ex-PM David Cameron's former seat of Witney in a by-election, but with a majority reduced by more than 20,000 votes.
Robert Courts won with a majority of 5,702, with 45% of the votes - down from Mr Cameron's majority of more than 25,000, with 60% of the vote, in 2015. Robert Courts won by 5,702 votes, but saw the party's vote share cut from 60% in 2015 to 45% as the Lib Dems surged past Labour into second.
The Lib Dems made significant gains to come second, while Labour was third. Liz Leffman polled 11,611 votes as the party's vote share rose from 7% to 30%.
Meanwhile, Labour held the Batley and Spen seat where Jo Cox was MP before she was killed. Meanwhile, Labour's Tracy Brabin held the Batley and Spen seat where Jo Cox was MP before she was killed in June.
Former Coronation Street actress Tracy Brabin won the seat - which out of respect was not contested by other main parties - with 85% of the vote. The former Coronation Street actress received an 85% share of the vote in the seat, which was not contested by other major parties out of respect for Mrs Cox, who was fatally attacked in her constituency.
'Send a message' 'Great result'
Barrister Mr Courts, a local councillor had some heavyweight support on the campaign trail - both Mr Cameron and Mrs May have been out knocking on voters' doors. Barrister Mr Courts secured victory in Oxfordshire's Witney constituency, but saw the Tory majority cut from the more than 25,000 Mr Cameron won at last year's general election.
Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn has also visited the constituency to support Mr Enright, while Lib Dem leader Tim Farron has been out to meet voters and back Ms Leffman. Labour's Duncan Enright dropped to third in the face of the Lib Dems' resurgence.
On Thursday, former Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said a "dramatic upset" in the form of a Lib Dem win was unlikely, given Mr Cameron's majority of 25,000 votes, but urged Witney voters to use the poll to "send a powerful message to Theresa May" against a "hard Brexit". The by-election was called after Mr Cameron stood down as an MP following June's Brexit vote and is the first electoral test for the Conservatives since Theresa May succeeded him as prime minister in July.
In Batley and Spen, the West Yorkshire constituency where Mrs Cox was shot and stabbed in June, her friend, Ms Brabin, held the seat for Labour - as the Conservatives, Lib Dems, UKIP and the Greens did not stand a candidate. Home Office minister Brandon Lewis said it was a "great result" for the party, despite the reduced majority.
She received 17,506 votes (85.84% of the vote), gaining a majority of 16,537. Heavyweight support
'Bittersweet victory' "You have to really look at what David Cameron got in 2002, when he first stood, which was 45%," he told the BBC.
Mrs Cox was elected in 2015 with a majority of more than 6,000 votes and 43% of the vote. The Conservatives came second and UKIP came third. Mr Courts, a local councillor, had some heavyweight support on the campaign trail, with both Mr Cameron and Mrs May knocking on voters' doors.
Mrs Brabin - who was loudly heckled during her acceptance speech - said her victory in Batley and Spen had been "bittersweet", adding that she hoped Mrs Cox would be proud that the community had spoken with one voice. Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn also visited the constituency to support Mr Enright, while Lib Dem leader Tim Farron had been out to meet voters and back Ms Leffman.
'Bittersweet victory in Batley and Spen'
In Batley and Spen, the West Yorkshire constituency where Mrs Cox was shot and stabbed in June, her friend, Ms Brabin, held the seat for Labour.
The Conservatives, Lib Dems, UKIP and the Greens did not stand a candidate.
Mrs Brabin received 17,506 votes - 85.84% of the vote and a majority of 16,537.
Mrs Cox had been elected in 2015 with a majority of more than 6,000 votes and a 43% share of the vote. The Conservatives came second and UKIP third.
Mrs Brabin, who was loudly heckled during her acceptance speech, said her victory was "bittersweet", adding that she hoped Mrs Cox would be proud that the community had spoken with one voice.
"This has been a difficult experience for all of us... that this by-election has had to take place at all is a tragedy," she said."This has been a difficult experience for all of us... that this by-election has had to take place at all is a tragedy," she said.
"I hope Jo will be proud tonight of our community."
She was one of 10 candidates, who included some independents, English Democrats, BNP and National Front candidates.She was one of 10 candidates, who included some independents, English Democrats, BNP and National Front candidates.
The remaining nine candidates all lost their £500 deposits as they did not receive a big enough share of the vote.The remaining nine candidates all lost their £500 deposits as they did not receive a big enough share of the vote.
Mrs Cox's husband, Brendan Cox tweeted his congratulations to Mrs Brabin, saying: "Well done @Tracy4MP & great to see all the purveyors of hate lose their deposits #MoreInCommon."Mrs Cox's husband, Brendan Cox tweeted his congratulations to Mrs Brabin, saying: "Well done @Tracy4MP & great to see all the purveyors of hate lose their deposits #MoreInCommon."
Mrs Brabin, who played Tricia Armstrong in Coronation Street in the 1990s, before appearing as Roxy Drake in EastEnders and Carole in Emmerdale, has also written for shows including Family Affairs, Tracy Beaker and Hollyoaks.Mrs Brabin, who played Tricia Armstrong in Coronation Street in the 1990s, before appearing as Roxy Drake in EastEnders and Carole in Emmerdale, has also written for shows including Family Affairs, Tracy Beaker and Hollyoaks.
A man has been charged with murdering Mrs Cox and is awaiting trial.A man has been charged with murdering Mrs Cox and is awaiting trial.
Witney result in full
Robert Courts (Con) - 17,313 (45.02%)
Liz Leffman (Lib Dem) - 11,611 (30.19%)
Duncan Enright (Lab) - 5,765 (14.99%)
Larry Sanders (Green) - 1,363 (3.54%)
Dickie Bird (UKIP) - 1,354 (3.52%)
Dr Helen Salisbury (NHAP) - 433 (1.13%)
Daniel Skidmore (Ind) - 151 (0.39%)
Mad Hatter (Loony) - 129 (0.34%)
Nicholas Ward (Ind) - 93 (0.24%)
David Bishop (Bus Pass Elvis) - 61 (0.16%)
Lord Toby Jug (Eccentric) - 59 (0.15%)
Winston McKenzie (Eng Dem) - 52 (0.14%)
Emilia Arno (Love) - 44 (0.11%)
Adam Knight (Ind) - 27 (0.07%)
Turnout - 46.74%
Batley and Spen result in fullBatley and Spen result in full
Tracy Brabin (Lab) - 17,506 (85.84%)Tracy Brabin (Lab) - 17,506 (85.84%)
Therese Hirst (Eng Dem) - 969 (4.75%)Therese Hirst (Eng Dem) - 969 (4.75%)
David Furness (BNP) - 548 (2.69%)David Furness (BNP) - 548 (2.69%)
Garry Kitchin (Ind) - 517 (2.54%)Garry Kitchin (Ind) - 517 (2.54%)
Corbyn Anti (Eng Ind) - 241 (1.18%)Corbyn Anti (Eng Ind) - 241 (1.18%)
Jack Buckby (Lib GB) - 220 (1.08%)Jack Buckby (Lib GB) - 220 (1.08%)
Henry Mayhew (Ind) - 153 (0.75%)Henry Mayhew (Ind) - 153 (0.75%)
Waqas Ali Khan (Ind) - 118 (0.58%)Waqas Ali Khan (Ind) - 118 (0.58%)
Richard Edmonds (NF) - 87 (0.43%)Richard Edmonds (NF) - 87 (0.43%)
Ankit Love (Love) - 34 (0.17%)Ankit Love (Love) - 34 (0.17%)
Turnout - 25.56%