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| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Labour holds poll in Blears ward | Labour holds poll in Blears ward |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Labour has held on to a council seat in the Salford constituency of Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, despite her involvement in the expenses row. | Labour has held on to a council seat in the Salford constituency of Communities Secretary Hazel Blears, despite her involvement in the expenses row. |
| Matt Mold won the Irwell Riverside by-election with a reduced majority. The Lib Dems came second and the BNP third. | Matt Mold won the Irwell Riverside by-election with a reduced majority. The Lib Dems came second and the BNP third. |
| It was the first test of voter feeling following the expenses scandal. | It was the first test of voter feeling following the expenses scandal. |
| Ms Blears has paid £13,332 to the Inland Revenue after she failed to pay capital gains tax on the sale of the flat designated as her second home. | Ms Blears has paid £13,332 to the Inland Revenue after she failed to pay capital gains tax on the sale of the flat designated as her second home. |
| She told the taxman the property was her main residence, an action Gordon Brown called "unacceptable". | She told the taxman the property was her main residence, an action Gordon Brown called "unacceptable". |
| Backlash | Backlash |
| Ms Blears attended the count on Thursday night and said she was "absolutely delighted" with the outcome. | Ms Blears attended the count on Thursday night and said she was "absolutely delighted" with the outcome. |
| Speaking afterwards, she said: "The result shows the values of Salford people are the values of the Labour Party." | Speaking afterwards, she said: "The result shows the values of Salford people are the values of the Labour Party." |
| BY-ELECTION RESULTS Labour - 606 votesLib Dems - 293 votesBNP - 276 votesConservatives - 189 votesGreen - 125 votesUKIP - 123 votes | |
| Labour officials in Salford had braced themselves for a backlash from voters and a possible surge in BNP support. | Labour officials in Salford had braced themselves for a backlash from voters and a possible surge in BNP support. |
| In the end, with voter turnout just 17.5%, Mr Mold received 606 votes followed by the Liberal Democrats with 293. | In the end, with voter turnout just 17.5%, Mr Mold received 606 votes followed by the Liberal Democrats with 293. |
| The BNP took 276 votes, the Conservatives 189, the Green Party 125 and UKIP 123. | The BNP took 276 votes, the Conservatives 189, the Green Party 125 and UKIP 123. |
| After the result was announced, there were some scuffles involving BNP activists who shouted at Ms Blears and tried to present her with a chocolate bar, in reference to one of her expenses claims. | After the result was announced, there were some scuffles involving BNP activists who shouted at Ms Blears and tried to present her with a chocolate bar, in reference to one of her expenses claims. |
| She replied by saying the people of Salford had "firmly and thoroughly rejected the politics of the BNP". | She replied by saying the people of Salford had "firmly and thoroughly rejected the politics of the BNP". |
| She also insisted her own position in the Cabinet was secure: "You have heard the prime minister say he has full support for me, I'm doing a great job as secretary of state and I get on with it. | She also insisted her own position in the Cabinet was secure: "You have heard the prime minister say he has full support for me, I'm doing a great job as secretary of state and I get on with it. |
| "I am a minister, but most importantly I am the Member of Parliament for Salford and tonight Salford has given me a great result and I couldn't ask for anything better." | "I am a minister, but most importantly I am the Member of Parliament for Salford and tonight Salford has given me a great result and I couldn't ask for anything better." |
| When we take Hazel out with us there is tremendous support for her Matt Mold, Labour councillor, Irwell Riverside | |
| She added: "I get on with my job, I'm the MP for Salford, I go out, I talk to people, I don't disappear away behind closed curtains." | She added: "I get on with my job, I'm the MP for Salford, I go out, I talk to people, I don't disappear away behind closed curtains." |
| Local rival | Local rival |
| Mr Mold insisted Ms Blears had been an asset to his by-election campaign. | Mr Mold insisted Ms Blears had been an asset to his by-election campaign. |
| "When we take Hazel out with us there is tremendous support for her," he said. | "When we take Hazel out with us there is tremendous support for her," he said. |
| "The expenses issue is a national issue and we won tonight because we fought a local campaign on local issues and with a local candidate." | "The expenses issue is a national issue and we won tonight because we fought a local campaign on local issues and with a local candidate." |
| Former Independent MP Martin Bell said he might run against Ms Blears at the next election, but it would be "brilliant" if a local candidate could be found instead. | Former Independent MP Martin Bell said he might run against Ms Blears at the next election, but it would be "brilliant" if a local candidate could be found instead. |
| He told BBC Radio Manchester: "What I would prefer to see is what I call the local model, where some well-known local person [chooses to stand], and Salford is full of good people who could do this." | He told BBC Radio Manchester: "What I would prefer to see is what I call the local model, where some well-known local person [chooses to stand], and Salford is full of good people who could do this." |