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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Parties await by-election result | Parties await by-election result |
| (about 4 hours later) | |
| Counting is due to start to determine who has won the first by-election since the Parliamentary expenses scandal. | |
| The Norwich North poll was triggered by Labour MP Ian Gibson's decision to step down amid criticism from the party executive committee's "star chamber". | The Norwich North poll was triggered by Labour MP Ian Gibson's decision to step down amid criticism from the party executive committee's "star chamber". |
| Former cabinet minister Geoff Hoon has admitted it will be "difficult" for Labour to hold the seat where his party was defending a majority of 5,549. | |
| The result is expected to be declared at about 1230 BST on Friday. | |
| Twelve candidates stood in the election. | |
| BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said senior Conservatives viewed the poll as a "must-win". | BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said senior Conservatives viewed the poll as a "must-win". |
| "Anything less would be a significant reverse that could bring the Cameron juggernaut to a shuddering halt," he said. | "Anything less would be a significant reverse that could bring the Cameron juggernaut to a shuddering halt," he said. |
| However, an expected poor turnout - caused by voter anger over the expenses scandal - could influence the result. | However, an expected poor turnout - caused by voter anger over the expenses scandal - could influence the result. |
| I think it is pretty difficult for us to win Geoff Hoon What is at stake for the parties | I think it is pretty difficult for us to win Geoff Hoon What is at stake for the parties |
| Labour figures fear the party could slip to third place behind the Liberal Democrats or Greens, our correspondent said. | Labour figures fear the party could slip to third place behind the Liberal Democrats or Greens, our correspondent said. |
| Mr Hoon told the BBC's Question Time the poll was taking place at a difficult time for the government in the middle of a recession, with public feelings still running high over the expenses scandal. | Mr Hoon told the BBC's Question Time the poll was taking place at a difficult time for the government in the middle of a recession, with public feelings still running high over the expenses scandal. |
| "This by-election has been a perfect storm for a governing party," the former defence and transport secretary said. | "This by-election has been a perfect storm for a governing party," the former defence and transport secretary said. |
| He acknowledged that many constituents were unhappy about the way in which Dr Gibson had been effectively de-selected, which prompted his resignation. | He acknowledged that many constituents were unhappy about the way in which Dr Gibson had been effectively de-selected, which prompted his resignation. |
| Dr Gibson had been barred from standing again by the Labour National Executive Committee's "star chamber" over his expenses claims. | |
| His local party continued to back him and Mr Hoon said Dr Gibson had been a "very good MP" as well as a "very talented man". | His local party continued to back him and Mr Hoon said Dr Gibson had been a "very good MP" as well as a "very talented man". |
| "I well understand why people who worked with him, supported him and voted for him were concerned about what happened," he added. | "I well understand why people who worked with him, supported him and voted for him were concerned about what happened," he added. |
| The Commons public administration select committee chairman, Labour's Dr Tony Wright, told BBC Two's Newsnight he thought Dr Gibson had been badly treated. | |
| "There were people in the House of Commons who did far worse things than he did," he said. | |
| "He was a victim of a moment when all the parties, and all the party leaders, were falling over each other to show how tough they were being." | "He was a victim of a moment when all the parties, and all the party leaders, were falling over each other to show how tough they were being." |
| 'Real problems' | 'Real problems' |
| Mr Hoon accepted the situation meant it would be "pretty difficult" for Labour to win. | Mr Hoon accepted the situation meant it would be "pretty difficult" for Labour to win. |
| "For the particular circumstances I set out we were always going to have real problems in this by-election," he said. | "For the particular circumstances I set out we were always going to have real problems in this by-election," he said. |
| Labour, whose candidate Chris Ostrowski was hospitalised with suspected swine flu on Tuesday, was facing a fierce challenge from the Conservatives. | Labour, whose candidate Chris Ostrowski was hospitalised with suspected swine flu on Tuesday, was facing a fierce challenge from the Conservatives. |
| Tory leader David Cameron had visited the constituency five times to back the party's candidate Chloe Smith. | Tory leader David Cameron had visited the constituency five times to back the party's candidate Chloe Smith. |
| Lib Dem candidate April Pond and Green Party hopeful Rupert Read were also hoping for strong showings. | Lib Dem candidate April Pond and Green Party hopeful Rupert Read were also hoping for strong showings. |
| Glenn Tingle was standing for the UK Independence Party and Robert West for the BNP. | Glenn Tingle was standing for the UK Independence Party and Robert West for the BNP. |
| Among the independents standing was Craig Murray, former ambassador to Uzbekistan, on an anti-sleaze ticket. | Among the independents standing was Craig Murray, former ambassador to Uzbekistan, on an anti-sleaze ticket. |
| Laud Howling stood on behalf of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party while Thomas Burridge represented the Libertarian Party and Anne Fryatt represented the None of The Above Party. | |
| Peter Baggs and Bill Holden were also standing as independents. | Peter Baggs and Bill Holden were also standing as independents. |
| The full list of candidates (in alphabetical order): | The full list of candidates (in alphabetical order): |
| Peter Baggs (Independent) | Peter Baggs (Independent) |
| Thomas Burridge (Libertarian Party) | Thomas Burridge (Libertarian Party) |
| Anne Fryatt (None of The Above Party) | Anne Fryatt (None of The Above Party) |
| Bill Holden (Independent) | Bill Holden (Independent) |
| Laud Howling (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party) | Laud Howling (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party) |
| Craig Murray (Put An Honest Man into Parliament) | Craig Murray (Put An Honest Man into Parliament) |
| Chris Ostrowski (Labour) | Chris Ostrowski (Labour) |
| April Pond (Liberal Democrat) | April Pond (Liberal Democrat) |
| Rupert Read (Green) | Rupert Read (Green) |
| Chloe Smith (Conservative) | Chloe Smith (Conservative) |
| Glenn Tingle (UK Independence Party) | Glenn Tingle (UK Independence Party) |
| Robert West (British National Party) | Robert West (British National Party) |