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Parties await by-election results Labour holds on to Blair's seat
(about 3 hours later)
Party leaders are awaiting the results of two by-elections in England, one in former PM Tony Blair's old seat. Labour has held on to Tony Blair's old parliamentary seat in the by-election prompted by his resignation as an MP - but with a reduced majority.
The Sedgefield contest was triggered by his resignation and the one in Ealing Southall by the death of Piara Khabra, the UK's oldest MP, at age 82. Its candidate, Phil Wilson, won by 6,956 votes - down from 18,449 at the last general election in 2005.
The contest, in two Labour-held seats, is seen as a test of opposition leaders Sir Menzies Campbell and David Cameron. The Liberal Democrats overtook the Conservatives to take the keenly fought contest for second place.
Both made visits to the two seats and Mr Blair has been on the campaign trail in Sedgefield. The result of the by-election in Ealing Southall, caused by the death of Labour MP Piara Khabra, is expected soon.
The former prime minister was MP there for 24 years, and the constituency is considered one of the safest Labour seats in England - held at the last general election by Mr Blair with a majority of 18,449. 'Fantastic result'
In Sedgefield, Labour took 12,528 votes, the Lib Dems 5,572 and the Conservatives 4,082. Electoral turnout was 41.57% - down 20.65 points from 2005.
Amid noisy scenes and slow hand-clapping by supporters of other parties, Mr Wilson said: "I want to get to work."
He told the BBC that his majority represented a "resounding success", given that voter turnout usually fell at by-elections.
Lib Dem candidate Greg Stone said his party had enjoyed a "fantastic result" and that it had been a "blow" for Tory leader David Cameron.
But Conservative candidate Graham Robb said his party's vote had "held firm" and that it was "in business" in the north east of England.
Both contests are being seen as a test of Liberal Democrat and Conservative leaders Sir Menzies Campbell and David Cameron.
Each made visits to the two seats and Mr Blair has been on the campaign trail in Sedgefield.
The former prime minister was MP there for 24 years, and the constituency is considered one of the safest Labour seats in England.
'Famous five''Famous five'
The man he hopes will be his successor, Phil Wilson, was one of the original "famous five" Labour activists who talented-spotted Mr Blair back in 1983. Mr Wilson was one of the original "famous five" Labour activists who talented-spotted Mr Blair back in 1983.
Mr Khabra had held Ealing Southall, in west London, since 1992, gaining a majority of 11,440 at the 2005 general election.Mr Khabra had held Ealing Southall, in west London, since 1992, gaining a majority of 11,440 at the 2005 general election.
At 82, he was the UK's oldest MP when he died last month.
Lib Dem leaders past and present have been campaigning hardLib Dem leaders past and present have been campaigning hard
A loss for Labour in either seat would be a serious blow to the new prime minister Gordon Brown. All eyes are on what is expected to be the race for second place between the Lib Dems and the Tories in Ealing Southall, where the Lib Dems came second in 2005 - but only 1,350 votes ahead of the Tories.
But all eyes are on what is expected to be the race for second place between the Lib Dems and the Tories, particularly in Ealing Southall, where the Lib Dems came second in 2005 - but only 1,350 votes ahead of the Tories.
Both Mr Cameron and Sir Menzies have had their leadership questioned in recent months, while Mr Brown appears to have benefited from a bounce in the opinion polls since becoming prime minister in June.Both Mr Cameron and Sir Menzies have had their leadership questioned in recent months, while Mr Brown appears to have benefited from a bounce in the opinion polls since becoming prime minister in June.
Age rowAge row
The Tories won an early boost with the defection of five Labour councillors to the Conservatives.The Tories won an early boost with the defection of five Labour councillors to the Conservatives.
But it later emerged that their candidate, Tony Lit, had recently attended a Labour fund-raising campaign and been photographed with Mr Blair.But it later emerged that their candidate, Tony Lit, had recently attended a Labour fund-raising campaign and been photographed with Mr Blair.
Meanwhile, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have become embroiled in a row over the age of the Labour candidate Virendra Sharma.Meanwhile, Labour and the Liberal Democrats have become embroiled in a row over the age of the Labour candidate Virendra Sharma.
Labour has accused its rivals of misrepresenting its candidate, by saying he was 72, when in fact he was 60.Labour has accused its rivals of misrepresenting its candidate, by saying he was 72, when in fact he was 60.
And the party has complained about a newspaper website blog purporting to reveal the proportion of postal votes won, which it says is an offence under electoral law.And the party has complained about a newspaper website blog purporting to reveal the proportion of postal votes won, which it says is an offence under electoral law.
The newspaper quoted a "source inside the Tory campaign" but the Conservatives dismissed it as "mischief making" by Labour.The newspaper quoted a "source inside the Tory campaign" but the Conservatives dismissed it as "mischief making" by Labour.
The official list of candidates for Sedgefield is: Sedgefield results:
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  • Stephen Gash, English Democrats - "Putting England First"
  • Paul Gittins, Independent
  • Tim Grainger, Christian Party "Proclaiming Christ's Lordship"
  • Chris Haine, Green Party
  • Alan 'Howling Laud' Hope, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
  • Toby Horton, UK Independence Party
  • Graham Robb, Conservative Party
  • Norman Scarth, Anti-Crime Party
  • Andrew Spence, British National Party
  • Greg Stone, Liberal Democrat
  • Phil Wilson, Labour Party
 Phil Wilson (Lab) 12,528 (44.77%, -14.11%) Greg Stone (LD) 5,572 (19.91%, +8.02%) Graham Robb (C) 4,082 (14.59%, +0.19%) Andrew Spence (BNP) 2,494 (8.91%) Paul Gittins (Ind) 1,885 (6.74%) Toby Horton (UKIP) 536 (1.92%, +0.36%) Chris Haine (Green) 348 (1.24%) Stephen Gash (Eng Dem) 177 (0.63%) Tim Grainger (Ch P) 177 (0.63%) Alan "Howling Laud" Hope (Loony) 147 (0.53%, +0.15%) Norman Scarth (Anti-Crime) 34 (0.12%) Lab maj 6,956 (24.86%) 11.06% swing Lab to Lib Dem
The list for Ealing Southall is:
  • Nigel Bakhai, Liberal Democrats
  • John Sydney Cartwright, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
  • Sati Chaggar, English Democrats - 'Putting England First!'
  • Salvinder Singh Dhillon, Respect - Peace, Justice, Equality
  • Sarah Janet Edwards, Green Party
  • Kuldeep Singh Grewal, Independent
  • Tony Lit, Conservative Party
  • Yakub Masih, Christian Party 'Proclaiming Christ's Lordship'
  • Jasdev Singh Rai, Independent
  • KT Rajan, UK Independence Party
  • Virendra Kumar Sharma, The Labour Party Candidate
  • Gulbash Singh, Independent
The names of candidates and description of who they are standing for are as described on the returning officers' official lists.