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Cameron hails 'end of New Labour' Cameron hails 'end of New Labour'
(about 1 hour later)
Conservative leader David Cameron says his party's first by-election win since 1982 marks "the end of New Labour".Conservative leader David Cameron says his party's first by-election win since 1982 marks "the end of New Labour".
Mr Cameron told cheering supporters in Crewe and Nantwich that Labour had run a negative, xenophobic and class war campaign that "completely backfired".Mr Cameron told cheering supporters in Crewe and Nantwich that Labour had run a negative, xenophobic and class war campaign that "completely backfired".
He said overturning Labour's 7,000 majority "can be the start of something different and something bigger".He said overturning Labour's 7,000 majority "can be the start of something different and something bigger".
Labour leader Gordon Brown said the result showed his task was to tackle people's concerns about rising prices.Labour leader Gordon Brown said the result showed his task was to tackle people's concerns about rising prices.
Asked if he thought he would lead Labour into the next election, Mr Brown said voters had shown they wanted him to steer the UK through "difficult economic times".Asked if he thought he would lead Labour into the next election, Mr Brown said voters had shown they wanted him to steer the UK through "difficult economic times".
'Remarkable victory'
But that view was questioned by Labour MP Graham Stringer, who called for a senior cabinet minister to launch a leadership challenge to save Labour from electoral "disaster".But that view was questioned by Labour MP Graham Stringer, who called for a senior cabinet minister to launch a leadership challenge to save Labour from electoral "disaster".
Tory candidate Edward Timpson won 7,860 more votes than his Labour rival - a 17.6% swing from the 2005 General Election.Tory candidate Edward Timpson won 7,860 more votes than his Labour rival - a 17.6% swing from the 2005 General Election.
'Encouraging'
Speaking outside his home on Friday, Mr Cameron said: "The Conservatives won a remarkable victory last night in Crewe and Nantwich and I want to congratulate Edward Timpson and everyone who took part in his campaign.
"But I know that winning a by-election and winning a general election are two different things and we've still got a huge amount of work to do."
RESULT AT-A-GLANCE Edward TimpsonConservative: 20,539 Tasmin DunwoodyLabour: 12,679Elizabeth ShentonLib Dems: 6,040 Analysis: How will Brown react?RESULT AT-A-GLANCE Edward TimpsonConservative: 20,539 Tasmin DunwoodyLabour: 12,679Elizabeth ShentonLib Dems: 6,040 Analysis: How will Brown react?
He added that it was "encouraging" that "thousands of people who have never voted Conservative before have come across and put their trust in the Conservative Party". Mr Cameron said it had been a "remarkable victory" but said: "I know that winning a by-election and winning a general election are two different things and we've still got a huge amount of work to do."
He said he aimed to show them that the party would not let them down. He said that it was "encouraging" that "thousands of people who have never voted Conservative before have come across and put their trust in the Conservative Party" and said the party would not let them down.
"I want to build over the coming months, over the coming years, the biggest coalition for change in our country so we really can remove this government and give Britain a better chance." He criticised Labour's "negative.. xenophobic" and "class war" campaign and said it had backfired.
"I think what happened was that, for Labour, it was the end of being of being the party of aspiration, it was the end of being the party of opportunity, it was the end of New Labour, here on the streets of Crewe and Nantwich."
'On the rise'
He said he wanted an end to "big, top-down, bossy, interfering government" and people wanted "something different".
He pledged to build a "coalition for change in our country so we really can remove this government and give Britain a better chance".
The contest followed the death of veteran Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, who had represented Crewe and Nantwich since the seat was created in 1983.The contest followed the death of veteran Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, who had represented Crewe and Nantwich since the seat was created in 1983.
The area's new MP, 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."
It was a bad result for Labour last night. Harriet HarmanLabour's deputy leader Nick Robinson's blogIn quotes: Crewe resultIt was a bad result for Labour last night. Harriet HarmanLabour's deputy leader Nick Robinson's blogIn quotes: Crewe result
The by-election comes weeks after Labour's poorest local election results in 40 years.
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%, high for a by-election, but was down slightly from 60% at the 2005 general election.Turnout was 58.2%, high for a by-election, but was down slightly from 60% at the 2005 general election.
Bad to worse Mr Timpson said Labour had paid the price for the decision to scrap the 10p rate of income tax and said people "are seeing us as an alternative to Labour".
Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman told the BBC: "It was a bad result for Labour last night. The by-election came weeks after Labour's poorest local election results in 40 years.
"But I think we have to understand what lies behind it and what lies behind it is people's sense of their own prospects and the fact people are feeling the pinch."
Edward Timpson's victory speechEdward Timpson's victory speech
She said the result had not been "a judgement from voters about our campaign". Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman acknowledged there were "discordant voices" among some Labour MPs.
Ms Harman told BBC Radio 4's Today programme she knew there were "discordant voices" among some Labour MPs - but added: "The overwhelming majority of people in the Labour Party - and I speak to constituency chairs up and down the country ... they are fully behind Gordon Brown." But she added: "The overwhelming majority of people in the Labour Party - and I speak to constituency chairs up and down the country ... they are fully behind Gordon Brown."
The campaign has taken place during a difficult few weeks for the prime minister, who has followed a poor set of local election results with the row over the abolition of the 10p tax rate.
'Robust' campaign
Mr Cameron is expected to capitalise on the victory by calling 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 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 26 June or 3 July being talked of as the likely dates for a contest. 'Robust' campaign
Speculation is concentrating on 26 June or 3 July as likely dates for a contest.
HAVE YOUR SAYAt last the country is becoming wise to this terrible Labour Government.Stuart McGregor, Glasgow Send us your commentsHAVE YOUR SAYAt last the country is becoming wise to this terrible Labour Government.Stuart McGregor, Glasgow Send us your comments
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 the by-election campaign Ms Dunwoody had criticised Mr Timpson's "Tory toff" background, but in the wake of defeat she said it was "robust but fun".
In her speech following the result declaration, Ms Dunwoody described the campaign as "robust but fun". The Liberal Democrat candidate Ms Shenton said the government had been "very wrong" to "support a budget that taxed people on ordinary incomes more than the rich". And Lib Dem home affairs spokesman Chris Huhne said they had done well to get as large a share they did, saying that normally in by-elections the third party gets squeezed down to 3% or less.
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." He told the BBC's Daily Politics the result had been an anit-Labour vote rather than a pro-Tory one.
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 were:The full results from the Crewe and Nantwich by-election were:
  • Edward Timpson (Con) 20,539 (49.49%, 16.93% increase on 2005 share of vote)
  • Tamsin Dunwoody (Lab) 12,679 (30.55%, -18.29%)
  • Elizabeth Shenton (Lib Dem) 6,040 (14.55%, -4.03%)
  • Mike Nattrass (UKIP) 922 (2.22%)
  • Robert Smith (Green) 359 (0.87%)
  • David Roberts (Eng Dem) 275 (0.66%)
  • The Flying Brick (Monster Raving Loony) 236 (0.57%)
  • Mark Walklate (Ind) 217 (0.52%)
  • Paul Thorogood (Cut Tax on Diesel and Petrol) 118 (0.28%)
  • Gemma Garrett (Ind) 113 (0.27%)
  • Edward Timpson (Con) 20,539 (49.49%, 16.93% increase on 2005 share of vote)
  • Tamsin Dunwoody (Lab) 12,679 (30.55%, -18.29%)
  • Elizabeth Shenton (Lib Dem) 6,040 (14.55%, -4.03%)
  • Mike Nattrass (UKIP) 922 (2.22%)
  • Robert Smith (Green) 359 (0.87%)
  • David Roberts (Eng Dem) 275 (0.66%)
  • The Flying Brick (Monster Raving Loony) 236 (0.57%)
  • Mark Walklate (Ind) 217 (0.52%)
  • Paul Thorogood (Cut Tax on Diesel and Petrol) 118 (0.28%)
  • Gemma Garrett (Ind) 113 (0.27%)