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Conservatives await Crewe victory Conservatives await Crewe victory
(20 minutes later)
The Conservative Party is hoping for its first by-election gain since 1982, after polls closed in the constituency of Crewe and Nantwich.The Conservative Party is hoping for its first by-election gain since 1982, after polls closed in the constituency of Crewe and Nantwich.
Counting is under way, with a result expected at about 0230 BST on Friday. Counting is under way, with a result expected early on Friday.
There are 10 candidates but it is widely seen as a two-way fight as the Tories seek to overturn Gwyneth Dunwoody's 7,000 Labour majority.There are 10 candidates but it is widely seen as a two-way fight as the Tories seek to overturn Gwyneth Dunwoody's 7,000 Labour majority.
BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Labour officials had already been "conceding a defeat".BBC political editor Nick Robinson said Labour officials had already been "conceding a defeat".
'Powerful message''Powerful message'
Communities Secretary Hazel Blears appeared to accept the result in Crewe and Nantwich would be bad.Communities Secretary Hazel Blears appeared to accept the result in Crewe and Nantwich would be bad.
She told BBC One's Question Time: "It might be that the electorate have decided to send us a pretty powerful message but the last thing they want is the Labour Party to turn on itself and be obsessed with our own affairs and not what the public want."She told BBC One's Question Time: "It might be that the electorate have decided to send us a pretty powerful message but the last thing they want is the Labour Party to turn on itself and be obsessed with our own affairs and not what the public want."
RESULTS PROGRAMMERESULTS PROGRAMME
There will be full coverage of the results in a special programme presented by Jon Sopel on the BBC's News Channel and BBC Two starting at 0050 BST on Friday. There will be full coverage of the results in a special programme presented by Jon Sopel on the BBC's News Channel and BBC Two starting at 0050 BST on Friday. Shadow Cabinet Office minister Francis Maude said: "I think there will be lots of questions asked in the aftermath of the Crewe by-election.
"We have no idea what the results going to be, but if it goes badly for Labour, I think he [Gordon Brown] is in trouble."
The by-election was held because of the death of long-serving Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody last month.The by-election was held because of the death of long-serving Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody last month.
The campaign has taken place during a dire few weeks for Mr Brown, who has followed a dismal set of local election results with the row over the abolition of the 10p tax rate.The campaign has taken place during a dire few weeks for Mr Brown, who has followed a dismal set of local election results with the row over the abolition of the 10p tax rate.
Labour's candidate is Tamsin Dunwoody, daughter of Gwyneth, who has made great play of her local credentials.Labour's candidate is Tamsin Dunwoody, daughter of Gwyneth, who has made great play of her local credentials.
But her campaign has been controversial because of its alleged "class war" focus on Conservative candidate Edward Timpson's "Tory toff" background.But her campaign has been controversial because of its alleged "class war" focus on Conservative candidate Edward Timpson's "Tory toff" background.
'Unbackable''Unbackable'
The Conservatives, meanwhile, have said every vote for them would send a message to Mr Brown about his decision to axe the 10p rate.The Conservatives, meanwhile, have said every vote for them would send a message to Mr Brown about his decision to axe the 10p rate.
The party's last by-election gain was in Mitcham and Morden in 1982.The party's last by-election gain was in Mitcham and Morden in 1982.
At the 2005 general election, Gwyneth Dunwoody won Crewe and Nantwich for Labour with 21,240 votes, from Conservative candidate Eveleigh Moore-Dutton on 14,162 and Lib Dem Paul Roberts on 8,083.At the 2005 general election, Gwyneth Dunwoody won Crewe and Nantwich for Labour with 21,240 votes, from Conservative candidate Eveleigh Moore-Dutton on 14,162 and Lib Dem Paul Roberts on 8,083.
Ladbrokes stopped taking bets on the outcome of the by-election on Tuesday, saying the Conservatives had become "unbackable" at 16/1 on.Ladbrokes stopped taking bets on the outcome of the by-election on Tuesday, saying the Conservatives had become "unbackable" at 16/1 on.
Elizabeth Shenton is standing for the Lib Dems but, although her party specialises in snatching surprise by-election victories, it has been trailing in the opinion polls.Elizabeth Shenton is standing for the Lib Dems but, although her party specialises in snatching surprise by-election victories, it has been trailing in the opinion polls.
But deputy leader Vince Cable told the BBC: "What's very clear is there is a lot of support draining away from the Labour Party - an enormous amount."But deputy leader Vince Cable told the BBC: "What's very clear is there is a lot of support draining away from the Labour Party - an enormous amount."
The other seven candidates are: The Flying Brick - The Official Monster Raving Loony Party; Gemma Garrett - Independent; Mike Nattrass - UK Independence Party; David Roberts - English Democrats; Robert Smith - Green Party; Paul Thorogood - Cut Tax on Petrol and Diesel; Mark Walklate - Independent.The other seven candidates are: The Flying Brick - The Official Monster Raving Loony Party; Gemma Garrett - Independent; Mike Nattrass - UK Independence Party; David Roberts - English Democrats; Robert Smith - Green Party; Paul Thorogood - Cut Tax on Petrol and Diesel; Mark Walklate - Independent.