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| By-elections: Corby count under way, as Labour hopes to gain seat | By-elections: Corby count under way, as Labour hopes to gain seat |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Counting is under way in the Corby by-election, seen as a mid-term test of David Cameron leadership. | Counting is under way in the Corby by-election, seen as a mid-term test of David Cameron leadership. |
| If Labour wins the seat vacated by Louise Mensch, it will be the party's first gain from the Conservatives at a by-election since 1997. | If Labour wins the seat vacated by Louise Mensch, it will be the party's first gain from the Conservatives at a by-election since 1997. |
| The BBC has confirmed that 35,733 votes were cast in Corby, giving a turnout figure of 44.8%. | The BBC has confirmed that 35,733 votes were cast in Corby, giving a turnout figure of 44.8%. |
| Labour held both Manchester Central and Cardiff South and Penarth in two by-elections counted overnight. | Labour held both Manchester Central and Cardiff South and Penarth in two by-elections counted overnight. |
| Meanwhile, millions of people were also voting in the first police and crime commissioner (PCC) elections in England and Wales, with results coming in later. One result was announced overnight, with Conservative Angus Macpherson elected as commissioner for Wiltshire. | Meanwhile, millions of people were also voting in the first police and crime commissioner (PCC) elections in England and Wales, with results coming in later. One result was announced overnight, with Conservative Angus Macpherson elected as commissioner for Wiltshire. |
| Counting is also under way in Bristol, where voters have been choosing the city's first directly elected mayor. | Counting is also under way in Bristol, where voters have been choosing the city's first directly elected mayor. |
| 'Understandable anger' | 'Understandable anger' |
| In Manchester Central, Labour's Lucy Powell (11,507) won with a majority of 9,936. Liberal Democrat Marc Ramsbottom (1,571) was second and Conservative Matthew Sephton (754) came in third. | In Manchester Central, Labour's Lucy Powell (11,507) won with a majority of 9,936. Liberal Democrat Marc Ramsbottom (1,571) was second and Conservative Matthew Sephton (754) came in third. |
| The turnout of 18.16% is believed to be the lowest in a UK parliamentary by-election since 1942, when just 8.5% of eligible voters cast a ballot in Poplar South, in east London. | The turnout of 18.16% is believed to be the lowest in a UK parliamentary by-election since 1942, when just 8.5% of eligible voters cast a ballot in Poplar South, in east London. |
| In Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour's Stephen Doughty won with 9,193 votes, Conservative Craig Williams was second with 3,859 and Lib Dem Bablin Molik was third with 2,103. Labour's majority was 5,334 and the turnout was 25.65%. | In Cardiff South and Penarth, Labour's Stephen Doughty won with 9,193 votes, Conservative Craig Williams was second with 3,859 and Lib Dem Bablin Molik was third with 2,103. Labour's majority was 5,334 and the turnout was 25.65%. |
| The Corby result is expected at about 14:30 GMT. | |
| Labour candidate Andy Sawford, son of Phil Sawford, former MP for nearby Kettering, is widely expected to take the seat amid controversy about the resignation of sitting MP Louise Mensch, which triggered the contest. | Labour candidate Andy Sawford, son of Phil Sawford, former MP for nearby Kettering, is widely expected to take the seat amid controversy about the resignation of sitting MP Louise Mensch, which triggered the contest. |
| The last time Labour took a seat from the Conservatives in a by-election was in Wirral South in February 1997. | The last time Labour took a seat from the Conservatives in a by-election was in Wirral South in February 1997. |
| Mrs Mensch, who stood down after just over two years to spend more time with her family, said her resignation sparked "entirely understandable local anger" and suggested that the Tories would lose Corby. | Mrs Mensch, who stood down after just over two years to spend more time with her family, said her resignation sparked "entirely understandable local anger" and suggested that the Tories would lose Corby. |
| Writing on Twitter, she said that the by-election result would not be a verdict on the Conservative candidate Christine Emmett or the party itself "but only on the decision I took to step down mid-term". | Writing on Twitter, she said that the by-election result would not be a verdict on the Conservative candidate Christine Emmett or the party itself "but only on the decision I took to step down mid-term". |
| She added: "Though I had to resign to unite our family, there was large & entirely understandable local anger. I wish I had been able to see out my term. | She added: "Though I had to resign to unite our family, there was large & entirely understandable local anger. I wish I had been able to see out my term. |
| "Christine and her team did an incredible job in the most difficult possible circumstances. I know she will one day make a wonderful MP." | "Christine and her team did an incredible job in the most difficult possible circumstances. I know she will one day make a wonderful MP." |
| Conservative Justice Minister Chris Grayling said it had been "an uphill battle" and a "struggle" to hold on to the seat. | Conservative Justice Minister Chris Grayling said it had been "an uphill battle" and a "struggle" to hold on to the seat. |
| He told BBC One's Question Time "many people in Corby feel disappointed and let down" by Mrs Mensch's decision to quit but parents would understand that she found it hard to meet her family commitments. | He told BBC One's Question Time "many people in Corby feel disappointed and let down" by Mrs Mensch's decision to quit but parents would understand that she found it hard to meet her family commitments. |
| But he said a loss in the Corby by-election "doesn't mean we can't win the next election". | But he said a loss in the Corby by-election "doesn't mean we can't win the next election". |
| Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman joked that the UK Independence Party was set to do so well that they had "split the Tory vote". | Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman joked that the UK Independence Party was set to do so well that they had "split the Tory vote". |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who is hoping his party will overtake the Lib Dems, or even the Conservatives, in the seat, said it was clear that Labour had won. | UKIP leader Nigel Farage, who is hoping his party will overtake the Lib Dems, or even the Conservatives, in the seat, said it was clear that Labour had won. |
| Mrs Mensch had a majority of less than 2,000 in a constituency that has regularly swung between Tory and Labour at general elections over the past 30 years - with voters always opting for the party that goes on to form a government. | Mrs Mensch had a majority of less than 2,000 in a constituency that has regularly swung between Tory and Labour at general elections over the past 30 years - with voters always opting for the party that goes on to form a government. |
| The closing stages of the campaign were overshadowed by revelations that the Tory campaign manager, Chris Heaton-Harris, had encouraged a friend, journalist James Delingpole, to stand against the party's candidate, Christine Emmett, on an anti-wind farm ticket. | The closing stages of the campaign were overshadowed by revelations that the Tory campaign manager, Chris Heaton-Harris, had encouraged a friend, journalist James Delingpole, to stand against the party's candidate, Christine Emmett, on an anti-wind farm ticket. |
| The MP was forced to apologise after the alleged plot emerged in a video secretly recorded by Greenpeace. | The MP was forced to apologise after the alleged plot emerged in a video secretly recorded by Greenpeace. |
| Meanwhile, the first police and crime commissioner elections look set to be mired in controversy amid reports of low turnout and deserted polling stations. | Meanwhile, the first police and crime commissioner elections look set to be mired in controversy amid reports of low turnout and deserted polling stations. |
| Total turnout in the election for the Greater Manchester police contest has been confirmed as 13.5%. | Total turnout in the election for the Greater Manchester police contest has been confirmed as 13.5%. |
| In Wiltshire, 81,477 people out of a total electorate of 520,000 voted - a turnout of 15.8%. | In Wiltshire, 81,477 people out of a total electorate of 520,000 voted - a turnout of 15.8%. |
| The Electoral Reform Society has branded the government's handling of the elections a "comedy of errors". | The Electoral Reform Society has branded the government's handling of the elections a "comedy of errors". |
| The society has predicted an average turnout of 18.5%, which would be below the previous record low in a national poll in peacetime of 23% in the 1999 European elections. | The society has predicted an average turnout of 18.5%, which would be below the previous record low in a national poll in peacetime of 23% in the 1999 European elections. |
| Did you take part in the voting? How do you feel the process went? What do you think of the results so far? Please share your comments and experiences | Did you take part in the voting? How do you feel the process went? What do you think of the results so far? Please share your comments and experiences |