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By-elections: Labour hold two seats ahead of Corby count By-elections: Labour hold two seats ahead of Corby count
(35 minutes later)
The result is due later in the Corby by-election - seen as a crucial mid-term test of David Cameron premiership.The result is due later in the Corby by-election - seen as a crucial mid-term test of David Cameron premiership.
If Labour wins the seat in Northants vacated by Louise Mensch, it will be the first time in 15 years the party has taken a Tory seat at a by-election.If Labour wins the seat in Northants vacated by Louise Mensch, it will be the first time in 15 years the party has taken a Tory seat at a by-election.
In other by-elections results declared overnight, Labour held both Manchester Central and Cardiff South and Penarth.In other by-elections results declared overnight, Labour held both Manchester Central and Cardiff South and Penarth.
Lucy Powell was elected in Manchester and Stephen Doughty in Cardiff.Lucy Powell was elected in Manchester and Stephen Doughty in Cardiff.
Millions of people were also voting in the first police and crime commissioner (PC) elections in England and Wales, with results coming in later. Millions of people were also voting in the first Police and Crime Commissioner (PCC) elections in England and Wales, with results coming in later.
Voters in Bristol have also been to the polls to choose the city's first directly-elected mayor. One result was announced overnight, with Conservative Angus Macpherson elected as commissioner for Wiltshire.
Voters in Bristol have also been to the polls to choose the city's first directly elected mayor.
In Manchester Central, Labour candidate 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 candidate 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 World War II.The turnout of 18.16% is believed to be the lowest in a UK parliamentary by-election since World War II.
'Local anger'
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 first PCC 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 and crime commissioner 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%.
After the first round of voting there, the Liberal Democrat and UKIP candidates were eliminated, with the Conservatives and Labour going through to the next round where second preference votes are included.
The Electoral Reform Society has branded the government's handling of the elections a "comedy of errors".
The society has predicted a 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.
UKIP MEP John Bufton called on Home Secretary Theresa May to resign over the conduct of the PCC elections, claiming she had ignored advice from the Electoral Commission on the vote.
But the government insists whoever is voted in will have a stronger mandate to set local crime fighting priorities than the unelected police authorities they will replace.
Counting will not get under way in Corby, Northamptonshire, until Friday morning, with a result expected at about 13:00 GMT.Counting will not get under way in Corby, Northamptonshire, until Friday morning, with a result expected at about 13:00 GMT.
Labour 'nervous' 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 Corby contest was triggered by the resignation of Louise Mensch, the high profile former member of the Commons Media Select Committee, who stood down after just over two years as Corby's MP to spend more time with her family. 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 the seat.
Mrs Mensch had a majority of less than 2,000 in a constituency that has regularly swung between Tory and Labour over the past 30 years - with voters always opting for the party that goes on to form a government. href="https://twitter.com/LouiseMensch" >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 said her resignation sparked "entirely understandable local anger" and suggested that the Tories would lose the seat. 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.
On Twitter, Mrs Mensch wrote: "Election result will not be a verdict on either Christine [Emmett], or the Conservatives, but only on the decision I took to step down mid-term.
"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."
The UK Independence Party has mounted a strong challenge in the constituency and was hoping to overtake the Liberal Democrats, or even the Conservatives. Conservative Justice Minister Chris Grayling said it had been "an uphill battle" and a "struggle" to hold on to the seat after the resignation of Mrs Mensch.
But the limited polling that has been carried out in the seat suggested Labour candidate Andy Sawford, son of Phil Sawford, former MP for nearby Kettering, is on course for victory. He told BBC One's Question Time "many people in Corby feel disappointed and let down" by her decision to quit but parents would understand that she found it hard to meet her family commitments.
Labour has sought to play down expectations, saying turn-out would be very low because of the early dusk in November. But he said a loss in the Corby by-election "doesn't mean we can't win the next election".
"We think we have won the campaign but we are nervous about the outcome," a source said. 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".
"We will wait and see - but whoever wins, no-one should expect it to be a big numerical majority." 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.
Wind farm row 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.
Mr Delingpole announced his intention to stand in Corby but withdrew from the race two weeks ago after Conservative Energy Minister John Hayes told the Daily Mail newspaper the development of onshore wind farms would be reined in - sparking a coalition row. Meanwhile, the first Police and Crime Commissioner elections look set to be mired in controversy amid reports of low turnout and deserted polling stations.
The Manchester Central by-election, in a seat where Labour has a majority of more than 10,000, was triggered by MP Tony Lloyd's decision to stand in the police and crime commissioner (PCC) elections. Total turnout in the election for the Greater Manchester police contest has been confirmed as 13.5%.
The by-election in Cardiff Central and Penarth, where Labour won by just over 4,700 two-and-a-half years ago, was prompted by the resignation of another PCC candidate, Alun Michael, who has held the seat for 25 years. 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 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.