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Labour holds on to Blair's seat Labour holds on in by-elections
(20 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 its parliamentary seats in Sedgefield and Ealing Southall following by-elections - but its winning margin has fallen in both.
Its candidate, Phil Wilson, won by 6,956 votes - down from 18,449 at the last general election in 2005. The party took Sedgefield, Tony Blair's old constituency, by 6,956 votes - down from 18,449 at the general election.
The Liberal Democrats overtook the Conservatives to take the keenly fought contest for second place. In Ealing Southall, its majority fell from 11,440 to 5,070.
The result of the by-election in Ealing Southall, caused by the death of Labour MP Piara Khabra, is expected soon. The Liberal Democrats were runners-up in both seats - overtaking the Tories in Sedgefield - after keenly fought contests for second place.
'Fantastic result' The Sedgefield seat, in County Durham, was made vacant by former prime minister Mr Blair's resignation as an MP to become a Middle East envoy.
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. Noisy scenes
Amid noisy scenes and slow hand-clapping by supporters of other parties, Mr Wilson said: "I want to get to work." The contest in Ealing Southall, west London, was triggered by the death of the UK's oldest MP, Piara Khabra, at the age of 82.
Both by-elections were seen as a test of the Conservative and Liberal Democrat leaders, David Cameron and Sir Menzies Campbell, with each visiting both seats.
It is a blow to Gordon Brown and a disaster for David Cameron Lib Dem leader Sir Menzies Campbell
In Sedgefield, Labour took 12,528 votes, the Lib Dems 5,572 and the Conservatives 4,082. Turnout was 41.57% - down 20.65 points from 2005.
Amid noisy scenes and slow hand-clapping by supporters of other parties, Labour's Phil 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. 'In business'
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. Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell said of the result: "It is a blow to [Prime Minister Gordon] Brown and a disaster for David Cameron.
Both contests are being seen as a test of Liberal Democrat leader Sir Menzies Campbell and Mr Cameron. "The Conservatives have been pushed into a poor third place and proved once again that they are entirely marginalised in the North of England."
Each made visits to the two seats and Mr Blair has been on the campaign trail in Sedgefield. But Tory candidate Graham Robb said his party's vote had "held firm" and that it was "in business" in the North East.
The former prime minister was MP there for 24 years, and the constituency is considered one of the safest Labour seats in England. Mr Blair was Sedgefield's MP for 24 years. Mr Wilson was one of the so-called "famous five" Labour activists who chose him as the party's candidate in 1983.
'Famous five' Mr Khabra had held Ealing Southall since 1992.
Mr Wilson was one of the original "famous five" Labour activists who talented-spotted Mr Blair back in 1983. Thursday's by-election saw Labour take 15,188 votes, the Lib Dems 10,118 and the Conservatives 8,230.
Mr Khabra had held Ealing Southall, in west London, since 1992, gaining a majority of 11,440 at the 2005 general election. The winner - Virendra Kumar Sharma - said his victory had been due to "policies" and "not slick PR".
At 82, he was the UK's oldest MP when he died last month. He added: "We never took this area for granted and we will never take this area for granted."
Mr Blair was MP for Sedgefield for 24 years Candidate row
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. The campaign saw several controversial incidents and claims.
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
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 Mr Sharma.
Labour has accused its rivals of misrepresenting its candidate, by saying he was 72, when in fact he was 60. Labour 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 majority 6,956 (24.86%) 11.06% swing Lab to Lib Dem