This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/uk_politics/6907049.stm
The article has changed 16 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Labour holds on to Blair's seat | Labour holds on to Blair's seat |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| 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. | 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. |
| Its candidate, Phil Wilson, won by 6,956 votes - down from 18,449 at the last general election in 2005. | Its candidate, Phil Wilson, won by 6,956 votes - down from 18,449 at the last general election in 2005. |
| The Liberal Democrats overtook the Conservatives to take the keenly fought contest for second place. | The Liberal Democrats overtook the Conservatives to take the keenly fought contest for second place. |
| The result of the by-election in Ealing Southall, caused by the death of Labour MP Piara Khabra, is expected soon. | The result of the by-election in Ealing Southall, caused by the death of Labour MP Piara Khabra, is expected soon. |
| 'Fantastic result' | '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. | 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." | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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 leader Sir Menzies Campbell and Mr Cameron. | Both contests are being seen as a test of Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell and Mr Cameron. |
| Each made visits to the two seats and Mr Blair has been on the campaign trail in Sedgefield. | 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. | 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' |
| Mr 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. | At 82, he was the UK's oldest MP when he died last month. |
| Mr Blair was MP for Sedgefield for 24 years | |
| 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. | 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. |
| 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 row | Age 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. |
| Sedgefield results: | Sedgefield results: |
| 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 | 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 |