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Labour holds on in by-elections Tories shrug off by-election blow
(about 2 hours later)
Labour has held on to its parliamentary seats in Sedgefield and Ealing Southall following by-elections - but its winning margin has fallen in both. David Cameron was putting on a brave face after the Conservatives failed to break through in the first by-election tests of Gordon Brown's premiership.
The party took Sedgefield, Tony Blair's old constituency, by 6,956 votes - down from 18,449 at the general election. Labour held on to Ealing Southall and Tony Blair's old Sedgefield seat - but with much reduced majorities.
In Ealing Southall, its majority fell from 11,440 to 5,070. Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell, who saw his party take second place in both seats, was the main beneficiary.
The Liberal Democrats were runners-up in both seats - overtaking the Tories in Sedgefield - after keenly fought contests for second place. Mr Cameron said the Tory share of the vote held up but added: "Obviously I would have liked to have done better."
In Ealing Southall, Labour took 15,188 votes, the Lib Dems 10,118 and the Conservatives 8,230 a swing of 5.24% from Labour to the Lib Dems. Turnout was 42.95% - down 13.23 points on 2005. The Tories had been hoping to overtake the Lib Dems in Ealing Southall, with Mr Cameron visiting the constituency five times during the course of the campaign.
Disaster denied But the party suffered a setback when it emerged their candidate, local businessman Tony Lit, had donated money to Labour and been photographed with Tony Blair just days before his selection.
The result is a blow for Conservative leader David Cameron, who was hoping to restore momentum to his challenge for power after being knocked off course by rows over grammar schools and Labour's "Brown bounce" in the polls. 'Remarkable' result
Mr Cameron visited Ealing five times during the campaign and his candidate, local businessman Tony Lit, was listed on the ballot paper as standing for "David Cameron's Conservative Party". Mr Cameron told the BBC: "Often in a seat where you are third your vote gets completely squeezed. That didn't happen last night.
We have to build from the grass roots up Caroline SpelmanConservative Party chairman class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6907689.stm">Brown 'can breathe easy' "Our vote held up. I think that is because we had a very good candidate, who fought an active campaign."
But the Tories suffered a setback when it emerged Mr Lit had donated money to Labour and been photographed with Tony Blair just days before his selection. He added: "Obviously I would have liked to have done better but on to the next battle."
Conservative Party chairman Caroline Spelman denied it had been a disastrous night for her party although she said it would "like to have done better" in both seats. He denied it was a mistake to list Mr Lit as standing for "David Cameron's Conservative Party" on the ballot paper, saying it was just one of the options available to parties.
"We made progress in Ealing Southall and reached in to communities we found it difficult to reach in to," she told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman described the two by-election results as "remarkable" for Labour - despite big swings to the Lib Dems in both constituencies.
"We have to build from the grass roots up and I think the important thing David Cameron has given us is his commitment to localism [which] has brought us in to the position of being the largest party of local government."
'Pleased'
Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman said the two by-election results were "remarkable" - despite big swings to the Lib Dems in both constituencies.
"The turnout was down but we are very pleased with the result," Ms Harman told BBC One's Breakfast."The turnout was down but we are very pleased with the result," Ms Harman told BBC One's Breakfast.
She added: "The other reason why have a spring in our step is because of what has happened to the Conservatives, because David Cameron actually put his own name on the ballot paper in Ealing and people didn't vote for him." She added: "The other reason why we have a spring in our step is because of what has happened to the Conservatives, because David Cameron actually put his own name on the ballot paper in Ealing and people didn't vote for him."
We never took this area for granted and we will never take this area for granted Virendra Kumar SharmaEaling Southall winner We are still in business in the North-East and as we regenerate our party, we will be back in business even more Graham RobbConservative candidate class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6907689.stm">Brown 'can breathe easy'
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said of the by-election results: "It is a blow to [Prime Minister Gordon] Brown and a disaster for David Cameron. Sir Menzies Campbell said of the by-election results: "It is a blow to [Prime Minister Gordon] Brown and a disaster for David Cameron.
"The Conservatives have been pushed into a poor third place and proved once again that they are entirely marginalised in the North of England." "The Conservatives have been pushed into a poor third place and proved once again that they are entirely marginalised in the north of England."
Labour's victorious candidate in Ealing Southall. Virendra Kumar Sharma, said his victory had been due to "policies" and "not slick PR". In Ealing Southall, Labour's majority fell from 11,440 to 5,070.
The party took 15,188 votes, the Lib Dems 10,118 and the Conservatives 8,230 - a swing of 5.24% from Labour to the Lib Dems. Turnout was 42.95% - down 13.23 points on 2005.
Labour's victorious candidate, Virendra Kumar Sharma, said his victory had been due to "policies" and "not slick PR".
He added: "We never took this area for granted and we will never take this area for granted."He added: "We never took this area for granted and we will never take this area for granted."
'Honoured''Honoured'
Conservative candidate Tony Lit said: "A race that's always been a one-horse race is no longer a one-horse race."Conservative candidate Tony Lit said: "A race that's always been a one-horse race is no longer a one-horse race."
In Sedgefield, Labour took 12,528 votes, the Lib Dems 5,572 and the Conservatives 4,082, with an 11% swing from Labour to the Lib Dems. Turnout was 41.57% - down 20.65 points from 2005.In Sedgefield, Labour took 12,528 votes, the Lib Dems 5,572 and the Conservatives 4,082, with an 11% swing from Labour to the Lib Dems. Turnout was 41.57% - down 20.65 points from 2005.
The seat was made vacant by former prime minister Mr Blair's resignation as an MP to become a Middle East envoy.The seat was made vacant by former prime minister Mr Blair's resignation as an MP to become a Middle East envoy.
This election has been a disaster for David Cameron Phil Wilson, Labour
Labour's candidate, Phil Wilson, was one of the Labour activists who talent spotted Mr Blair in 1983, but his 45% share of the vote was 14% down on Mr Blair's haul in the 2005 general election.Labour's candidate, Phil Wilson, was one of the Labour activists who talent spotted Mr Blair in 1983, but his 45% share of the vote was 14% down on Mr Blair's haul in the 2005 general election.
Most of the benefit from the swing away from Labour was felt by the Lib Dems and the British National Party, which held on to its deposit with almost 9% of the vote.Most of the benefit from the swing away from Labour was felt by the Lib Dems and the British National Party, which held on to its deposit with almost 9% of the vote.
Accepting his victory in Sedgefield, Mr Wilson said he was "honoured and deeply humbled" to be elected to the seat where he grew up.Accepting his victory in Sedgefield, Mr Wilson said he was "honoured and deeply humbled" to be elected to the seat where he grew up.
"We have won our victory here tonight because of the success of New Labour under Tony Blair and our renewal with Gordon Brown," he said."We have won our victory here tonight because of the success of New Labour under Tony Blair and our renewal with Gordon Brown," he said.
"This election has been a disaster for David Cameron. People know he just can't be trusted when it comes to the big issues.""This election has been a disaster for David Cameron. People know he just can't be trusted when it comes to the big issues."
Lib Dem candidate Greg Stone said: "This has been a fantastic result for the Liberal Democrats. Yet again we have shown we are the only alternative to Labour in the north."Lib Dem candidate Greg Stone said: "This has been a fantastic result for the Liberal Democrats. Yet again we have shown we are the only alternative to Labour in the north."
But Tory candidate Graham Robb, who came third but marginally improved his party's share of the vote, rejected the claim.But Tory candidate Graham Robb, who came third but marginally improved his party's share of the vote, rejected the claim.
"It is a good result for us, because we can prove we are still in business in the North-East and as we regenerate our party, we will be back in business even more," he said. "It is a good result for us, because we can prove we are still in business in the north-east and as we regenerate our party, we will be back in business even more," he said.
Sedgefield results:Sedgefield results:
Phil Wilson (Lab) 12,528 (44.77%, -14.11%) Greg Stone (LD) 5,572 (19.91%, +8.02%) Graham Robb (C) 4,082 (14.59%, +0.19%) Andrew Spence (BNP) 2,494 (8.91%) Paul Gittins (Ind) 1,885 (6.74%) Toby Horton (UKIP) 536 (1.92%, +0.36%) Chris Haine (Green) 348 (1.24%) Stephen Gash (Eng Dem) 177 (0.63%) Tim Grainger (Ch P) 177 (0.63%) Alan "Howling Laud" Hope (Loony) 147 (0.53%, +0.15%) Norman Scarth (Anti-Crime) 34 (0.12%) Lab majority 6,956 (24.86%) 11.06% swing Lab to Lib DemsPhil Wilson (Lab) 12,528 (44.77%, -14.11%) Greg Stone (LD) 5,572 (19.91%, +8.02%) Graham Robb (C) 4,082 (14.59%, +0.19%) Andrew Spence (BNP) 2,494 (8.91%) Paul Gittins (Ind) 1,885 (6.74%) Toby Horton (UKIP) 536 (1.92%, +0.36%) Chris Haine (Green) 348 (1.24%) Stephen Gash (Eng Dem) 177 (0.63%) Tim Grainger (Ch P) 177 (0.63%) Alan "Howling Laud" Hope (Loony) 147 (0.53%, +0.15%) Norman Scarth (Anti-Crime) 34 (0.12%) Lab majority 6,956 (24.86%) 11.06% swing Lab to Lib Dems
Ealing Southall results:Ealing Southall results:
Virendra Sharma (Lab) 15,188 (41.48%, -7.28%) Nigel Bakhai (LD) 10,118 (27.63%, +3.19%) Tony Lit (C) 8,230 (22.48%, +0.91%) Sarah Edwards (Green) 1,135 (3.10%, -1.52%) Salvinder Dhillon (Respect) 588 (1.61%) Dr Kunnathur Rajan (UKIP) 285 (0.78%) Yaqub Masih (Ch P) 280 (0.76%) Jasdev Rai (Ind) 275 (0.75%) John Cartwright (Loony) 188 (0.51%) Sati Chaggar (Eng Dem) 152 (0.42%) Gulbash Singh (Ind) 92 (0.25%) Kuldeep Grewal (Ind) 87 (0.24%) Lab maj 5,070 (13.85%) 5.24% swing Lab to Lib DemsVirendra Sharma (Lab) 15,188 (41.48%, -7.28%) Nigel Bakhai (LD) 10,118 (27.63%, +3.19%) Tony Lit (C) 8,230 (22.48%, +0.91%) Sarah Edwards (Green) 1,135 (3.10%, -1.52%) Salvinder Dhillon (Respect) 588 (1.61%) Dr Kunnathur Rajan (UKIP) 285 (0.78%) Yaqub Masih (Ch P) 280 (0.76%) Jasdev Rai (Ind) 275 (0.75%) John Cartwright (Loony) 188 (0.51%) Sati Chaggar (Eng Dem) 152 (0.42%) Gulbash Singh (Ind) 92 (0.25%) Kuldeep Grewal (Ind) 87 (0.24%) Lab maj 5,070 (13.85%) 5.24% swing Lab to Lib Dems