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| Version 14 | Version 15 |
|---|---|
| Tories snatch Crewe from Labour | Tories snatch Crewe from Labour |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| The Conservative Party has achieved its first by-election gain in 26 years, taking the previously safe Labour seat of Crewe and Nantwich. | The Conservative Party has achieved its first by-election gain in 26 years, taking the previously safe Labour seat of Crewe and Nantwich. |
| Tory candidate Edward Timpson won 7,860 more votes than his Labour rival, overturning a 7,000 Labour majority at the general election - a 17.6% swing. | Tory candidate Edward Timpson won 7,860 more votes than his Labour rival, overturning a 7,000 Labour majority at the general election - a 17.6% swing. |
| Shadow local government minister Eric Pickles said: "We've taken it and we've taken it big." | Shadow local government minister Eric Pickles said: "We've taken it and we've taken it big." |
| The contest followed the death of veteran Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody. | The contest followed the death of veteran Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody. |
| Mr Timpson said voters had "rejected the old politics and voted for the positive alternative put forward by the Conservative Party". | Mr Timpson said voters had "rejected the old politics and voted for the positive alternative put forward by the Conservative Party". |
| He said the government had paid the price for the decision to scrap the 10p rate of income tax, adding: "Gordon Brown just does not get it and the government needs to change." | He said the government had paid the price for the decision to scrap the 10p rate of income tax, adding: "Gordon Brown just does not get it and the government needs to change." |
| The by-election follows dismal recent local election results for Labour. | The by-election follows dismal recent local election results for Labour. |
| 'Powerful message' | 'Powerful message' |
| BBC political editor Nick Robinson said if Tory leader David Cameron becomes prime minister at the next election "many will look back at the vote in Crewe and Nantwich as the moment they first believed it was possible". | |
| HAVE YOUR SAYAt last the country is becoming wise to this terrible Labour Government.Stuart McGregor, Glasgow Send us your comments | HAVE YOUR SAYAt last the country is becoming wise to this terrible Labour Government.Stuart McGregor, Glasgow Send us your comments |
| Mr Timpson, a 34-year-old barrister, took 20,539 votes. The Labour candidate, Mrs Dunwoody's daughter Tamsin Dunwoody, was second on 12,679, with Liberal Democrat Elizabeth Shenton third on 6,040. | Mr Timpson, a 34-year-old barrister, took 20,539 votes. The Labour candidate, Mrs Dunwoody's daughter Tamsin Dunwoody, was second on 12,679, with Liberal Democrat Elizabeth Shenton third on 6,040. |
| Turnout was 58.2%, which is very high for a by-election, but was down slightly from 60% at the 2005 general election. | Turnout was 58.2%, which is very high for a by-election, but was down slightly from 60% at the 2005 general election. |
| For Labour, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said voters had "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". | For Labour, Communities Secretary Hazel Blears said voters had "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". |
| 'Disaster' | 'Disaster' |
| Left-wing Labour backbencher John McDonnell said: "Things are just going from bad to worse for the government. | |
| "It would be an immense misreading of the situation for New Labour ministers to dismiss this result as simply mid-term blues. The prime minister's re-launch after the disaster of the local election results has proved to be totally ineffective." | "It would be an immense misreading of the situation for New Labour ministers to dismiss this result as simply mid-term blues. The prime minister's re-launch after the disaster of the local election results has proved to be totally ineffective." |
| Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "It's a great result for David Cameron because I think that it gives him as leader tremendous authority. It is the best result we have had for 30 years. | Shadow defence secretary Liam Fox said: "It's a great result for David Cameron because I think that it gives him as leader tremendous authority. It is the best result we have had for 30 years. |
| See more of the candidatesEnlarge Image | See more of the candidatesEnlarge Image |
| "For Labour, it is a dire result. It is indicative of the fact that voters believe Gordon Brown has lost the plot." | "For Labour, it is a dire result. It is indicative of the fact that voters believe Gordon Brown has lost the plot." |
| The campaign has taken place during a dire few weeks for Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has followed a poor 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 Prime Minister Gordon Brown, who has followed a poor set of local election results with the row over the abolition of the 10p tax rate. |
| Mr Cameron is expected to capitalise on the victory by calling for an early by-election in Henley, the Westminster seat due to be vacated by new London Mayor Boris Johnson. | Mr Cameron is expected to capitalise on the victory by calling for an early by-election in Henley, the Westminster seat due to be vacated by new London Mayor Boris Johnson. |
| The Tories hope to build on their momentum, with June 26 and July 3 being talked of as the likely dates for a contest. | The Tories hope to build on their momentum, with June 26 and July 3 being talked of as the likely dates for a contest. |
| During canvassing in Crewe and Nantwich, Ms Dunwoody criticised Mr Timpson's "Tory toff" background, leading to accusations that Labour was using "class war" tactics. | During canvassing in Crewe and Nantwich, Ms Dunwoody criticised Mr Timpson's "Tory toff" background, leading to accusations that Labour was using "class war" tactics. |
| In her speech following the result declaration, Ms Dunwoody described the campaign as "robust but fun". | In her speech following the result declaration, Ms Dunwoody described the campaign as "robust but fun". |
| She said to Mr Timpson: "It is an honour to serve the people of Crewe and Nantwich. It is an honour I hope you take seriously - I and everyone will be watching you." | She said to Mr Timpson: "It is an honour to serve the people of Crewe and Nantwich. It is an honour I hope you take seriously - I and everyone will be watching you." |
| The Liberal Democrat candidate Ms Shenton told the government: "You need to know that you were very wrong when you supported a budget that taxed people on ordinary incomes more than the rich." | |
| But she said she had not met anyone on the campaign trail who said they wanted a Conservative government. | |
| The Conservative Party's last by-election gain was in Mitcham and Morden, south-west London, in 1982. | The Conservative Party's last by-election gain was in Mitcham and Morden, south-west London, in 1982. |
| The full results from the Crewe and Nantwich by-election are: | The full results from the Crewe and Nantwich by-election are: |
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