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Peterborough by-election: Labour beats Brexit Party to hold seat Peterborough by-election: Labour beats Brexit Party to hold seat
(32 minutes later)
The Labour Party has narrowly seen off a challenge from the Brexit Party to hold on to its Peterborough seat in a by-election.The Labour Party has narrowly seen off a challenge from the Brexit Party to hold on to its Peterborough seat in a by-election.
Union activist Lisa Forbes managed to retain the constituency for Labour, beating Nigel Farage's candidate Mike Greene by 683 votes.Union activist Lisa Forbes managed to retain the constituency for Labour, beating Nigel Farage's candidate Mike Greene by 683 votes.
Ms Forbes hailed her "significant" victory and said it showed people had "rejected the politics of division".Ms Forbes hailed her "significant" victory and said it showed people had "rejected the politics of division".
The Brexit Party said "no seat is safe" after its performance. The Brexit Party said "something very significant happened here last night".
Its leader Nigel Farage said: "We have come from nowhere, produced a massive result - we haven't quite got over the line, but we are pretty buoyed by this."
He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the results indicate "the future is very, very unpredictable" - and that if the UK does not leave the EU on 31 October, "the Brexit Party will power on".
Asked about the party only having one policy and no manifesto, Mr Farage added: "We have a very strong, simple message that people believe in."
The by-election was called after Fiona Onasanya - who was convicted of lying over a speeding offence - became the first MP to be ousted under recall rules.The by-election was called after Fiona Onasanya - who was convicted of lying over a speeding offence - became the first MP to be ousted under recall rules.
Both Labour and the Brexit Party had jostled for position as the bookmakers' favourite up until the result was announced.Both Labour and the Brexit Party had jostled for position as the bookmakers' favourite up until the result was announced.
The recently formed Eurosceptic group was vying to secure its first MP after gaining 29 seats in the European elections two weeks ago.The recently formed Eurosceptic group was vying to secure its first MP after gaining 29 seats in the European elections two weeks ago.
Brexit Party 'rejected'Brexit Party 'rejected'
But, as the winner was declared in Peterborough shortly after 02:00 BST, a chant erupted from Ms Forbes' supporters. As the winner was declared in Peterborough shortly after 02:00 BST, cheers erupted from Ms Forbes' supporters.
In a victory speech, she said her win had "shown that the politics of hope can win regardless of the odds".In a victory speech, she said her win had "shown that the politics of hope can win regardless of the odds".
"Despite the differing opinions across our city, the fact that the Brexit Party have been rejected here in Peterborough shows that the politics of division will not win," she said."Despite the differing opinions across our city, the fact that the Brexit Party have been rejected here in Peterborough shows that the politics of division will not win," she said.
Mr Farage made a brief appearance at the count before the result was announced but left without talking to reporters.Mr Farage made a brief appearance at the count before the result was announced but left without talking to reporters.
Meanwhile the Conservatives, who have traditionally tussled over the marginal seat with the opposition, fell into third place.Meanwhile the Conservatives, who have traditionally tussled over the marginal seat with the opposition, fell into third place.
Hard-fought campaignHard-fought campaign
BBC Look East political correspondent Ben Schofield said the Brexit Party had hoped to campaign - and win - on national issues and discontent with the "Westminster elite".BBC Look East political correspondent Ben Schofield said the Brexit Party had hoped to campaign - and win - on national issues and discontent with the "Westminster elite".
But, he said, Labour's activists had managed to win by focusing on local issues.But, he said, Labour's activists had managed to win by focusing on local issues.
Defeated Brexit Party candidate Mr Greene said his campaign had failed to match Labour's organisation on the ground.Defeated Brexit Party candidate Mr Greene said his campaign had failed to match Labour's organisation on the ground.
He said: "Naturally it is a blow to lose by so few votes, but you have to remember that the Labour Party have millions of pounds to throw at elections and have been doing this for more than a hundred years.He said: "Naturally it is a blow to lose by so few votes, but you have to remember that the Labour Party have millions of pounds to throw at elections and have been doing this for more than a hundred years.
"I think Peterborough deserves more than tonight's result has given them, and in time they will get it."I think Peterborough deserves more than tonight's result has given them, and in time they will get it.
"We lost a battle tonight, but we can still win the war.""We lost a battle tonight, but we can still win the war."
In a tweet, the Brexit Party hailed its "remarkable result".In a tweet, the Brexit Party hailed its "remarkable result".
Mr Corbyn said it was a "great win" for a "people-powered campaign".Mr Corbyn said it was a "great win" for a "people-powered campaign".
"Peterborough has shown clear support for Labour's programme to end austerity and invest in services and communities, rejecting a decade of Tory cuts and their disastrous handling of Brexit," he said."Peterborough has shown clear support for Labour's programme to end austerity and invest in services and communities, rejecting a decade of Tory cuts and their disastrous handling of Brexit," he said.
"In this key seat, the Conservatives have been pushed to the margins.""In this key seat, the Conservatives have been pushed to the margins."
The view from the count The Brexit Party has made a huge impression - but history is written by the winners.
By Ben Schofield, political correspondent, BBC Look East Had Nigel Farage's party actually won this narrowly, he would have had much more momentum to argue not just to get Brexit done by the end of October, but to have huge influence potentially over how the Conservatives choose their leader.
Lisa Forbes told me her top three priorities in office will be education, crime and cleaning up the streets. Had Labour lost narrowly, there would have been a big demand from the rank-and-file for Jeremy Corbyn to sharpen his Brexit act and to call for a referendum under all circumstances. That has not happened either.
This was far from a Brexit Party landslide - and was a much closer contest than many had predicted. The conclusion that the Labour leadership is drawing from this is that people actually wanted to talk about things other than Brexit.
The Conservatives won 7,243 votes, meaning their support didn't collapse as much as Mike Greene and the Brexit Party hoped it would. By talking about council cuts, crime, and education, they managed not to fight on the same territory as their opponents and were able to carve out their own distinctive message, get out their core vote and sneak over the line.
Likewise, the Lib Dems' Beki Selleck more than doubled her vote tally compared with 2017.
The Peterborough constituency has long been a Conservative-Labour marginal and, despite boundary changes over the years, is still regarded as one of England's bellwether seats.The Peterborough constituency has long been a Conservative-Labour marginal and, despite boundary changes over the years, is still regarded as one of England's bellwether seats.