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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Cameron hails by-election victory | Cameron hails by-election victory |
| (30 minutes later) | |
| Conservative leader David Cameron has hailed an "excellent result" in the Henley by-election, which saw Labour beaten into fifth place. | Conservative leader David Cameron has hailed an "excellent result" in the Henley by-election, which saw Labour beaten into fifth place. |
| Mr Cameron said his party's win showed people were starting to think of the Tories as an alternative government. | Mr Cameron said his party's win showed people were starting to think of the Tories as an alternative government. |
| But Gordon Brown - speaking a year after he became PM - said "by-elections come and by-elections go". | |
| Labour lost its deposit with just 1,066 votes - fewer than the BNP, Greens, Lib Dems and Tory victor John Howell. | Labour lost its deposit with just 1,066 votes - fewer than the BNP, Greens, Lib Dems and Tory victor John Howell. |
| Mr Howell took the seat with 19,796 votes - a majority of 10,116 to the Lib Dem candidate - Stephen Kearney's 9,680. | Mr Howell took the seat with 19,796 votes - a majority of 10,116 to the Lib Dem candidate - Stephen Kearney's 9,680. |
| He replaces Boris Johnson, who stepped down after becoming mayor of London. | He replaces Boris Johnson, who stepped down after becoming mayor of London. |
| 'Disastrous result' | 'Disastrous result' |
| Mr Cameron said: "It's an absolutely excellent result in Henley" but a "disastrous result for the Labour Party". | Mr Cameron said: "It's an absolutely excellent result in Henley" but a "disastrous result for the Labour Party". |
| Gordon Brown's reaction to the Henley result | Gordon Brown's reaction to the Henley result |
| And he said he believed it was "the first time in a long time when there's been a contest between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats where there's been a swing to the Conservatives." | And he said he believed it was "the first time in a long time when there's been a contest between the Conservatives and Liberal Democrats where there's been a swing to the Conservatives." |
| "I think what we saw was people who voted for all sorts of different parties, including the Liberal Democrats, now looking at the Conservatives and saying: 'Yes this is an alternative government that I can believe in'." | "I think what we saw was people who voted for all sorts of different parties, including the Liberal Democrats, now looking at the Conservatives and saying: 'Yes this is an alternative government that I can believe in'." |
| Both the Tories and the Liberal Democrats saw their share of the vote rise compared with the 2005 General Election while Labour's fell by more than 11%. | Both the Tories and the Liberal Democrats saw their share of the vote rise compared with the 2005 General Election while Labour's fell by more than 11%. |
| Giving his reaction to the result, Mr Brown, who is on a visit to Manchester, said: "By-elections come and by-elections go and of course we will listen to what people say." | Giving his reaction to the result, Mr Brown, who is on a visit to Manchester, said: "By-elections come and by-elections go and of course we will listen to what people say." |
| 'Higher petrol bills' | 'Higher petrol bills' |
| But he said his job was to improve public services and get the economy moving. | But he said his job was to improve public services and get the economy moving. |
| "I think people know that we are going through difficult times in the economy. It's my job to steer us through these difficult times," he said. | "I think people know that we are going through difficult times in the economy. It's my job to steer us through these difficult times," he said. |
| RESULT AT-A-GLANCE John Howell: Conservative 19,796 Stephen Kearney: Lib Dems 9,680Mark Stevenson: Green 1,321Timothy Rait: BNP 1,243Richard McKenzie: Labour 1,066Chris Adams: UKIP 843 By-election result in fullAnniversary blow for BrownBrown marks first year as PM | RESULT AT-A-GLANCE John Howell: Conservative 19,796 Stephen Kearney: Lib Dems 9,680Mark Stevenson: Green 1,321Timothy Rait: BNP 1,243Richard McKenzie: Labour 1,066Chris Adams: UKIP 843 By-election result in fullAnniversary blow for BrownBrown marks first year as PM |
| "And people facing higher petrol bills, higher gas and electricity bills, people facing high food prices, it's my job to make sure I can do more to help people's standard of living improve." | "And people facing higher petrol bills, higher gas and electricity bills, people facing high food prices, it's my job to make sure I can do more to help people's standard of living improve." |
| Health Minister Ben Bradshaw admitted it was a "terrible result" for Labour but said it was down to current economic conditions rather than any unpopularity of Mr Brown. | Health Minister Ben Bradshaw admitted it was a "terrible result" for Labour but said it was down to current economic conditions rather than any unpopularity of Mr Brown. |
| "I don't believe he is personally unpopular," he added, saying that it was the "completely irrational" criticism by political commentators that was fuelling negative perceptions. | "I don't believe he is personally unpopular," he added, saying that it was the "completely irrational" criticism by political commentators that was fuelling negative perceptions. |
| But Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the result showed Mr Brown's days in No 10 were numbered. | But Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said the result showed Mr Brown's days in No 10 were numbered. |
| "Labour's days are well and truly over and it is the Liberal Democrats who are challenging the Conservatives in the south and Labour in the north," he said. | "Labour's days are well and truly over and it is the Liberal Democrats who are challenging the Conservatives in the south and Labour in the north," he said. |
| Meanwhile, a YouGov opinion poll for the Daily Telegraph suggests Labour has closed the gap on the Tories over the past month. | Meanwhile, a YouGov opinion poll for the Daily Telegraph suggests Labour has closed the gap on the Tories over the past month. |
| Labour was up five points on the month at 28% - still 18 points behind the Conservatives who dropped one point to 46%. The Liberal Democrats were down three on 15%. | Labour was up five points on the month at 28% - still 18 points behind the Conservatives who dropped one point to 46%. The Liberal Democrats were down three on 15%. |
| But 61% of those surveyed thought Gordon Brown was a liability to the party, compared to 21% when he came to power a year ago. | But 61% of those surveyed thought Gordon Brown was a liability to the party, compared to 21% when he came to power a year ago. |
| Last year, 62% thought Labour would win the next general election, but that has dropped to 16% while 67% now think that the Conservatives are on course for victory, the poll suggests. | Last year, 62% thought Labour would win the next general election, but that has dropped to 16% while 67% now think that the Conservatives are on course for victory, the poll suggests. |