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Peterborough by-election: Labour beats Brexit Party to hold seat Peterborough by-election: Labour beats Brexit Party to hold seat
(about 1 hour 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. Labour has narrowly seen off a Brexit Party challenge 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 retained the constituency for Labour, taking 31% of the vote and beating the Brexit Party's Mike Greene (29%) by 683 votes.
Ms Forbes hailed her "significant" victory and said it showed people had "rejected the politics of division". Ms Forbes said voters had "rejected the politics of division" and backed the "politics of hope".
The Brexit Party said "something very significant happened here last night". But Nigel Farage, who founded the Brexit Party less than two months ago, called its showing "very significant".
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." The Conservatives came third with 21%, while the Liberal Democrats were fourth with 12%, followed by the Green Party on 3%.
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". By-election facts
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 Peterborough by-election was called after Fiona Onasanya - who won for Labour in 2017 but was convicted of lying over a speeding offence and thrown out of the party - 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. As the winner was declared in Peterborough - usually a Labour-Tory marginal - shortly after 02:00 BST, cheers erupted from Ms Forbes' supporters.
Both Labour and the Brexit Party had jostled for position as the bookmakers' favourite up until the result was announced. In her victory speech, she said her win had "shown that the politics of hope can win regardless of the odds".
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'
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".
"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. The Brexit Party had been the bookmakers' favourite to take the Cambridgeshire seat - which would have been its first at Westminster - following its success in the recent European elections.
Meanwhile the Conservatives, who have traditionally tussled over the marginal seat with the opposition, fell into third place. 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."
Hard-fought campaign He told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the results indicated "the future is very, very unpredictable" - and that if the UK did not leave the EU on 31 October, "the Brexit Party will power on".
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.
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.
"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."
In a tweet, the Brexit Party hailed its "remarkable result".
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.
"In this key seat, the Conservatives have been pushed to the margins."
The Brexit Party has made a huge impression - but history is written by the winners.The Brexit Party has made a huge impression - but history is written by the winners.
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.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.
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. 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.
The conclusion that the Labour leadership is drawing from this is that people actually wanted to talk about things other than Brexit.The conclusion that the Labour leadership is drawing from this is that people actually wanted to talk about things other than Brexit.
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.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.
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. Asked about the party only having one policy - ensuring Brexit happens - and no manifesto, Mr Farage added: "We have a very strong, simple message that people believe in."
Labour leader Jeremy 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.
"In this key seat, the Conservatives have been pushed to the margins."
Conservative leadership candidate Boris Johnson tweeted his "commiserations" to Tory candidate, who, he said, "did not deserve to come third".
Ms Forbes caused controversy during the campaign when she liked a post on Twitter which said Theresa May had a "Zionist slave masters agenda".
Shadow transport secretary Andy McDonald said she had been "careless" in her language but had apologised for her mistake and would make a fantastic MP.
But Labour MP Margaret Hodge said she had "raised concerns" about Ms Forbes' comments with the party's leadership, while fellow Labour MP Jess Phillips said Ms Forbes had "endorsed and ignored anti-Semitic things".