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Labour holds on in by-elections Labour holds on in by-elections
(22 minutes 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.Labour has held on to its parliamentary seats in Sedgefield and Ealing Southall following by-elections - but its winning margin has fallen in both.
The party took Sedgefield, Tony Blair's old constituency, by 6,956 votes - down from 18,449 at the general election.The party took Sedgefield, Tony Blair's old constituency, by 6,956 votes - down from 18,449 at the general election.
In Ealing Southall, its majority fell from 11,440 to 5,070.In Ealing Southall, its majority fell from 11,440 to 5,070.
The Liberal Democrats were runners-up in both seats - overtaking the Tories in Sedgefield - after keenly fought contests for second place.The Liberal Democrats were runners-up in both seats - overtaking the Tories in Sedgefield - after keenly fought contests for second place.
The Sedgefield seat, in County Durham, was made vacant by former prime minister Mr Blair's resignation as an MP to become a Middle East envoy.The Sedgefield seat, in County Durham, was made vacant by former prime minister Mr Blair's resignation as an MP to become a Middle East envoy.
Noisy scenesNoisy scenes
The contest in Ealing Southall, west London, was triggered by the death of the UK's oldest MP, Piara Khabra, at the age of 82.The contest in Ealing Southall, west London, was triggered by the death of the UK's oldest MP, Piara Khabra, at the age of 82.
Both by-elections were seen as a test of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders, David Cameron and Sir Menzies Campbell, with each visiting both seats.Both by-elections were seen as a test of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders, David Cameron and Sir Menzies Campbell, with each visiting both seats.
It is a blow to Gordon Brown and a disaster for David Cameron Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies CampbellIt is a blow to Gordon Brown and a disaster for David Cameron Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell
In Sedgefield, Labour took 12,528 votes, the Lib Dems 5,572 and the Conservatives 4,082. 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. Turnout was 41.57% - down 20.65 points from 2005.
Amid noisy scenes and slow hand-clapping by supporters of other parties, Labour's Phil Wilson said: "I want to get to work."Amid noisy scenes and slow hand-clapping by supporters of other parties, Labour's Phil Wilson said: "I want to get to work."
He told the BBC that his majority represented a "resounding success", given that voter turnout usually fell at by-elections.He told the BBC that his majority represented a "resounding success", given that voter turnout usually fell at by-elections.
'In business''In business'
Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said of the result: "It is a blow to [Prime Minister Gordon] Brown and a disaster for David Cameron.Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said of the result: "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."
But Tory candidate Graham Robb said his party's vote had "held firm" and that it was "in business" in the North East.But Tory candidate Graham Robb said his party's vote had "held firm" and that it was "in business" in the North East.
Mr Blair was Sedgefield's MP for 24 years. Mr Wilson was one of the so-called "famous five" Labour activists who chose him as the party's candidate in 1983.Mr Blair was Sedgefield's MP for 24 years. Mr Wilson was one of the so-called "famous five" Labour activists who chose him as the party's candidate in 1983.
Mr Khabra had held Ealing Southall since 1992.Mr Khabra had held Ealing Southall since 1992.
Thursday's by-election saw Labour take 15,188 votes, the Lib Dems 10,118 and the Conservatives 8,230. Thursday's by-election saw Labour take 15,188 votes, the Lib Dems 10,118 and the Conservatives 8,230. Turnout was 42.95% - down 13.23 points on 2005.
The winner - Virendra Kumar Sharma - said his victory had been due to "policies" and "not slick PR". Labour's 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."
Candidate rowCandidate row
Conservative candidate Tony Lit said: "A race that's always been a one-horse race is no longer a one-horse race."
The campaign saw several controversial incidents and claims.The campaign saw several controversial incidents and claims.
The Tories won an early boost with the defection of five Labour councillors to the Conservatives.The Tories won an early boost with the defection of five Labour councillors to the Conservatives.
But it later emerged that their candidate, Tony Lit, had recently attended a Labour fund-raising campaign and been photographed with Mr Blair. But it emerged that Mr Lit, a businessman, had recently attended a Labour fund-raising campaign and been photographed with Mr Blair.
Meanwhile, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have become embroiled in a row over the age of Mr Sharma. Meanwhile, Labour and the Liberal Democrats became embroiled in a row over the age of Mr Sharma.
Labour accused its rivals of misrepresenting its candidate, by saying he was 72, when in fact he was 60.Labour accused its rivals of misrepresenting its candidate, by saying he was 72, when in fact he was 60.
And the party has complained about a newspaper website blog purporting to reveal the proportion of postal votes won, which it says is an offence under electoral law.And the party has complained about a newspaper website blog purporting to reveal the proportion of postal votes won, which it says is an offence under electoral law.
The newspaper quoted a "source inside the Tory campaign" but the Conservatives dismissed it as "mischief-making" by Labour.The newspaper quoted a "source inside the Tory campaign" but the Conservatives dismissed it as "mischief-making" by Labour.
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 Dem 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 Dems
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 Dems