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Parties await by-election result Labour braced for key poll defeat
(about 1 hour later)
Votes are being counted in the Norwich North by-election, the first contest prompted by the MPs' expenses row. Labour is braced to lose the Norwich North by-election, the first contest prompted by the MPs' expenses row.
Sources at the count suggest the Tories are poised to take the seat.
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.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.
The result is expected around 1230 BST, the turnout is estimated at 45%. The result is due at 1230 BST. Turnout is estimated at 45%, less than the 61% who voted at the general election but about average for recent by-elections.
That is well down on the 61% who voted in the constituency at the 2005 general election, but about average for recent by-elections.
The Labour vote is thought to have been split by anger at the way ex MP Ian Gibson was effectively de-selected by the party.The Labour vote is thought to have been split by anger at the way ex MP Ian Gibson was effectively de-selected by the party.
MP resignedMP resigned
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.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.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
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.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.
"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," he said, acknowledging many constituents were unhappy about the way Dr Gibson had been treated.
Dr Gibson had been barred from standing again by the Labour National Executive Committee over his expenses claims and chose to resign immediately.Dr Gibson had been barred from standing again by the Labour National Executive Committee over his expenses claims and chose to resign immediately.
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.
He said the circumstances meant it would be "pretty difficult" for Labour to win.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.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."
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.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.
Labour's campaign faced further problems when its candidate Chris Ostrowski was hospitalised with suspected swine flu on Tuesday.Labour's campaign faced further problems when its candidate Chris Ostrowski was hospitalised with suspected swine flu on Tuesday.
Should Mr Ostrowski, 28, or his Conservative rival Chloe Smith, 27, win the seat they would be the youngest MP in the House of Commons. The current "baby of the House" is the 29-year-old Lib Dem MP Jo Swinson.