This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6907049.stm

The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 9 Version 10
Labour holds on in by-elections Labour holds on in by-elections
(about 4 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.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.
Sedgefield, in County Durham, was made vacant by former prime minister Mr Blair's resignation as an MP to become a Middle East envoy. 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 contest in Ealing Southall, west London, was triggered by the death of the UK's oldest MP, Piara Khabra, at the age of 82. Disaster denied
This election has been a disaster for David Cameron Phil Wilson, Labour class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6907689.stm">Brown 'can breathe easy' 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.
Both by-elections were seen as a test of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders, David Cameron and Sir Menzies Campbell. 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".
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. 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'
Amid noisy scenes and slow hand-clapping by supporters of other parties, Labour's Phil Wilson said: "I want to get to work." 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: "We have won our victory here tonight because of the success of New Labour under Tony Blair and our renewal with Gordon Brown 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.
"This election has been a disaster for David Cameron. People know he just can't be trusted when it comes to the big issues." "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.
"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.
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."
We never took this area for granted and we will never take this area for granted Virendra Kumar SharmaEaling Southall winnerWe never took this area for granted and we will never take this area for granted Virendra Kumar SharmaEaling Southall winner
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 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."
But Tory candidate Graham Robb said his party's vote had "held firm" and that it was "in business" in the North East. Labour's victorious candidate in Ealing Southall. Virendra Kumar Sharma, said his victory had been due to "policies" and "not slick PR".
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 from 1992 until his death last month.
A race that's always been a one-horse race is no longer a one-horse race Tony LitConservative candidate
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.
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."
'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."
The campaign saw several controversial incidents and claims. 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 Tories won an early boost with the defection of five Labour councillors to the Conservatives. The seat was made vacant by former prime minister Mr Blair's resignation as an MP to become a Middle East envoy.
But it emerged that Mr Lit, a businessman, had recently attended a Labour fund-raising campaign and been photographed with Mr Blair. This election has been a disaster for David Cameron Phil Wilson, Labour
Meanwhile, Labour and the Liberal Democrats became embroiled in a row over the age of Mr Sharma. 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 accused its rivals of misrepresenting its candidate, by saying he was 72, when in fact he was 60. 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.
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. Accepting his victory in Sedgefield, Mr Wilson said he was "honoured and deeply humbled" to be elected to the seat where he grew up.
The newspaper quoted a "source inside the Tory campaign" but the Conservatives dismissed it as "mischief-making" by Labour. "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."
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.
"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