This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-20345196
The article has changed 24 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 18 | Version 19 |
|---|---|
| By-elections: Labour takes Corby from Conservatives | By-elections: Labour takes Corby from Conservatives |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Labour has snatched a seat from the Conservatives in a by-election for the first time in 15 years, taking Corby in Northamptonshire. | Labour has snatched a seat from the Conservatives in a by-election for the first time in 15 years, taking Corby in Northamptonshire. |
| Andy Sawford won by 7,791 votes, with Conservative Christine Emmett in second. The UK Independence Party came third and the Liberal Democrats fourth. | Andy Sawford won by 7,791 votes, with Conservative Christine Emmett in second. The UK Independence Party came third and the Liberal Democrats fourth. |
| Former MP Louise Mensch angered locals by quitting Corby after just two years to move to New York with her family. | Former MP Louise Mensch angered locals by quitting Corby after just two years to move to New York with her family. |
| Labour held two other seats in by-elections counted overnight. | Labour held two other seats in by-elections counted overnight. |
| They were Manchester Central and Cardiff South and Penarth, both considered safe seats for the party. | They were Manchester Central and Cardiff South and Penarth, both considered safe seats for the party. |
| 'Historic' | 'Historic' |
| Results are also coming in from the first elections for police and crime commissioners around England and Wales and for a directly elected mayor of Bristol. | Results are also coming in from the first elections for police and crime commissioners around England and Wales and for a directly elected mayor of Bristol. |
| Labour had been widely expected to take Corby, which Mrs Mensch won by fewer than 2,000 votes at the last general election, but the result will be seen as a mid-term test of Prime Minister David Cameron's leadership. | Labour had been widely expected to take Corby, which Mrs Mensch won by fewer than 2,000 votes at the last general election, but the result will be seen as a mid-term test of Prime Minister David Cameron's leadership. |
| Labour took 17,267 votes. The Conservatives got 9,476, UKIP 5,108 and the Lib Dems 1,770. | Labour took 17,267 votes. The Conservatives got 9,476, UKIP 5,108 and the Lib Dems 1,770. |
| In his victory speech, Mr Sawford said: "This result is a historic win for today's one-nation Labour Party. | In his victory speech, Mr Sawford said: "This result is a historic win for today's one-nation Labour Party. |
| "Today Middle England has spoken and they have sent a very clear message to David Cameron. This is truly a significant result." | "Today Middle England has spoken and they have sent a very clear message to David Cameron. This is truly a significant result." |
| He added that it was a "damning verdict" on the prime minister and the Conservatives' "betrayal of the British people" and said Labour wanted to "restore fairness". | He added that it was a "damning verdict" on the prime minister and the Conservatives' "betrayal of the British people" and said Labour wanted to "restore fairness". |
| Referring to Corby's status as a classic swing seat, which he claimed "the road to Downing Street runs through Corby". | |
| Ms Emmett, the Conservative candidate, said: "This was never going to be an easy by-election to fight, but I'm really proud that we fought such a positive campaign." | |
| Lib Dem candidate, Jill Hope, who lost her deposit by a handful of votes, hit out at her party's Conservative coalition partners in her speech. | |
| She said: "Because of the economic mess that Labour left behind, the coalition government has had to take some hard and unpopular decisions, and I accept that, becaise of that, we have had a difficult election and it's been a struggle. | |
| "The Conservatives pretty well got off scot-free, and you know what they say? It's the rich what get the pleasure and the poor what get the blame." | |
| Ahead of the result, Conservative Justice Minister Chris Grayling told the BBC local factors would also be influential, saying that "many people in Corby feel disappointed and let down" by Mrs Mensch's decision to quit. | Ahead of the result, Conservative Justice Minister Chris Grayling told the BBC local factors would also be influential, saying that "many people in Corby feel disappointed and let down" by Mrs Mensch's decision to quit. |
| Some 35,733 votes were cast in Corby, giving a turnout figure of 44.8%. | Some 35,733 votes were cast in Corby, giving a turnout figure of 44.8%. |
| 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. |
| Meanwhile, in Manchester Central's by-election, 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) third. | Meanwhile, in Manchester Central's by-election, 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) 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%. |
| 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 |