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Parties await by-election result Parties await by-election result
(40 minutes later)
Counting is due to start to determine who has won the first by-election since the Parliamentary expenses scandal. The result of the Norwich North by-election, the first contest prompted by the MPs' expenses row, is due in hours.
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". Tory leader David Cameron made his sixth visit to the constituency on Thursday as part of his party's efforts to overturn Labour's 5,459 majority.
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. Counting is due to start at 0900 BST with a result expected to be declared at about 1230 BST.
The result is expected to be declared at about 1230 BST on Friday. There were fears of a low turnout due to resentment of MPs over expenses but initial estimates suggest it was 45%.
Twelve candidates stood in the election. That is well down on the 61% who voted in the constituency at the 2005 general election, but above average for recent by-elections.
BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said senior Conservatives viewed the poll as a "must-win". The Labour is thought to have been split by anger at the way ex MP Ian Gibson was de-selected by the party.
"Anything less would be a significant reverse that could bring the Cameron juggernaut to a shuddering halt," he said. MP resigned
However, an expected poor turnout - caused by voter anger over the expenses scandal - could influence the result. The Greens, the main opposition party on the council, were hoping to benefit from anger at the main parties and Labour fears the party could slip to third place, behind the Greens or Liberal Democrats.
On Thursday night former cabinet minister Geoff Hoon said it would be "difficult" for Labour to hold the seat.
I think it is pretty difficult for us to win Geoff Hoon What is at stake for the partiesI 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. On BBC One's Question Time, he said the contest was taking place at a difficult time for the government in the middle of a recession and 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," he said, acknowledging many constituents were unhappy about the way Dr Gibson had been treated.
"This by-election has been a perfect storm for a governing party," the former defence and transport secretary said. Dr Gibson had been barred from standing again by the Labour National Executive Committee over his expenses claims and chose to resign immediately.
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. He said the circumstances meant it would be "pretty difficult" for Labour to win.
Senior Labour MP 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."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' BBC political correspondent Norman Smith said the by-election was being seen as a "virtual lost cause" for Labour, but there was little mood in the party for another debate about Gordon Brown's leadership.
Mr Hoon accepted the situation meant it would be "pretty difficult" for Labour to win. Labour's campaign faced further problems when its candidate Chris Ostrowski was hospitalised with suspected swine flu on Tuesday.
"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.
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.
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.
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.

The full list of candidates (in alphabetical order):
Peter Baggs (Independent)
Thomas Burridge (Libertarian Party)
Anne Fryatt (None of The Above Party)
Bill Holden (Independent)
Laud Howling (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)
Craig Murray (Put An Honest Man into Parliament)
Chris Ostrowski (Labour)
April Pond (Liberal Democrat)
Rupert Read (Green)
Chloe Smith (Conservative)
Glenn Tingle (UK Independence Party)
Robert West (British National Party)