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| Witney by-election: Lib Dems celebrate reduced Tory majority | Witney by-election: Lib Dems celebrate reduced Tory majority |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| The Liberal Democrat by-election candidate for Witney declared her party "back in business" after it slashed the Conservatives' majority to come second. | The Liberal Democrat by-election candidate for Witney declared her party "back in business" after it slashed the Conservatives' majority to come second. |
| Robert Courts won the seat for the Tories after Prime Minister David Cameron stood down. | Robert Courts won the seat for the Tories after Prime Minister David Cameron stood down. |
| But the party saw its majority cut by more than 20,000 votes as the Lib Dems surged from 7% to 30% of the vote. | But the party saw its majority cut by more than 20,000 votes as the Lib Dems surged from 7% to 30% of the vote. |
| Their candidate Liz Leffman claimed the party picked up unhappy Conservative voters following the Brexit vote. | Their candidate Liz Leffman claimed the party picked up unhappy Conservative voters following the Brexit vote. |
| The by-election was called after Mr Cameron stood down as an MP following June's referendum. | The by-election was called after Mr Cameron stood down as an MP following June's referendum. |
| Ms Leffman said she was "very, very pleased with this result" and added: "The Liberal Democrats are definitely back in business". | Ms Leffman said she was "very, very pleased with this result" and added: "The Liberal Democrats are definitely back in business". |
| Analysis: How significant is Witney result? | |
| She said: "It's amazing what we've managed to achieve. | She said: "It's amazing what we've managed to achieve. |
| "People who have voted Conservative, all their lives in some cases, have turned to us because we are the party that really understands what the implications of Brexit are." | "People who have voted Conservative, all their lives in some cases, have turned to us because we are the party that really understands what the implications of Brexit are." |
| Mr Courts said it was "a huge honour to have been elected as the MP for the area I love, live in and call home" and praised his predecessor Mr Cameron. | Mr Courts said it was "a huge honour to have been elected as the MP for the area I love, live in and call home" and praised his predecessor Mr Cameron. |
| Labour candidate Duncan Enright came third with about 15% of the vote, down from 17% in 2015. | Labour candidate Duncan Enright came third with about 15% of the vote, down from 17% in 2015. |
| He said: "I felt that we led on the arguments right throughout the campaign. We talked about the NHS and its weakness and that certainly chimed with a lot of people." | He said: "I felt that we led on the arguments right throughout the campaign. We talked about the NHS and its weakness and that certainly chimed with a lot of people." |
| Witney result in full | Witney result in full |
| Robert Courts (Con) - 17,313 (45.02%) | Robert Courts (Con) - 17,313 (45.02%) |
| Liz Leffman (Lib Dem) - 11,611 (30.19%) | Liz Leffman (Lib Dem) - 11,611 (30.19%) |
| Duncan Enright (Lab) - 5,765 (14.99%) | Duncan Enright (Lab) - 5,765 (14.99%) |
| Larry Sanders (Green) - 1,363 (3.54%) | Larry Sanders (Green) - 1,363 (3.54%) |
| Dickie Bird (UKIP) - 1,354 (3.52%) | Dickie Bird (UKIP) - 1,354 (3.52%) |
| Dr Helen Salisbury (NHAP) - 433 (1.13%) | Dr Helen Salisbury (NHAP) - 433 (1.13%) |
| Daniel Skidmore (Ind) - 151 (0.39%) | Daniel Skidmore (Ind) - 151 (0.39%) |
| Mad Hatter (Loony) - 129 (0.34%) | Mad Hatter (Loony) - 129 (0.34%) |
| Nicholas Ward (Ind) - 93 (0.24%) | Nicholas Ward (Ind) - 93 (0.24%) |
| David Bishop (Bus Pass Elvis) - 61 (0.16%) | David Bishop (Bus Pass Elvis) - 61 (0.16%) |
| Lord Toby Jug (Eccentric) - 59 (0.15%) | Lord Toby Jug (Eccentric) - 59 (0.15%) |
| Winston McKenzie (Eng Dem) - 52 (0.14%) | Winston McKenzie (Eng Dem) - 52 (0.14%) |
| Emilia Arno (Love) - 44 (0.11%) | Emilia Arno (Love) - 44 (0.11%) |
| Adam Knight (Ind) - 27 (0.07%) | Adam Knight (Ind) - 27 (0.07%) |
| Turnout - 46.74% | Turnout - 46.74% |
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