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| Version 6 | Version 7 |
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| Labour holds on in by-elections | Labour holds on in by-elections |
| (29 minutes later) | |
| Labour has held on to its parliamentary seats in Sedgefield and Ealing Southall following by-elections - but its winning margin has fallen in both. | Labour has held on to its parliamentary seats in Sedgefield and Ealing Southall following by-elections - but its winning margin has fallen in both. |
| The party took Sedgefield, Tony Blair's old constituency, by 6,956 votes - down from 18,449 at the general election. | The party took Sedgefield, Tony Blair's old constituency, by 6,956 votes - down from 18,449 at the general election. |
| In Ealing Southall, its majority fell from 11,440 to 5,070. | In Ealing Southall, its majority fell from 11,440 to 5,070. |
| The Liberal Democrats were runners-up in both seats - overtaking the Tories in Sedgefield - after keenly fought contests for second place. | The Liberal Democrats were runners-up in both seats - overtaking the Tories in Sedgefield - after keenly fought contests for second place. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Noisy scenes | Noisy scenes |
| 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. | 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. | 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. |
| This election has been a disaster for David Cameron Phil Wilson, Labour class="" href="/1/hi/uk_politics/6907689.stm">Brown 'can breathe easy' | |
| 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. | 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." | Amid noisy scenes and slow hand-clapping by supporters of other parties, Labour's Phil Wilson said: "I want to get to work." |
| He added: "We have won our victory here tonight because of the success of New Labour under Tony Blair and our renewal with Gordon Brown | |
| "This election has been a disaster for David Cameron. People know he just can't be trusted when it comes to the big issues." | |
| 'In business' | 'In business' |
| 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. | 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. |
| "The Conservatives have been pushed into a poor third place and proved once again that they are entirely marginalised in the North of England." | "The Conservatives have been pushed into a poor third place and proved once again that they are entirely marginalised in the North of England." |
| But Tory candidate Graham Robb said his party's vote had "held firm" and that it was "in business" in the North East. | But Tory candidate Graham Robb said his party's vote had "held firm" and that it was "in business" in the North East. |
| 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. | 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. |
| Mr Khabra had held Ealing Southall since 1992. | Mr Khabra had held Ealing Southall since 1992. |
| Thursday's by-election saw Labour take 15,188 votes, the Lib Dems 10,118 and the Conservatives 8,230. Turnout was 42.95% - down 13.23 points on 2005. | Thursday's by-election saw Labour take 15,188 votes, the Lib Dems 10,118 and the Conservatives 8,230. Turnout was 42.95% - down 13.23 points on 2005. |
| Labour's Virendra Kumar Sharma said his victory had been due to "policies" and "not slick PR". | Labour's Virendra Kumar Sharma said his victory had been due to "policies" and "not slick PR". |
| He added: "We never took this area for granted and we will never take this area for granted." | He added: "We never took this area for granted and we will never take this area for granted." |
| Candidate row | Candidate row |
| Conservative candidate Tony Lit said: "A race that's always been a one-horse race is no longer a one-horse race." | Conservative candidate Tony Lit said: "A race that's always been a one-horse race is no longer a one-horse race." |
| The campaign saw several controversial incidents and claims. | The campaign saw several controversial incidents and claims. |
| 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 emerged that Mr Lit, a businessman, had recently attended a Labour fund-raising campaign and been photographed with Mr Blair. | But it emerged that Mr Lit, a businessman, had recently attended a Labour fund-raising campaign and been photographed with Mr Blair. |
| Meanwhile, Labour and the Liberal Democrats became embroiled in a row over the age of Mr Sharma. | Meanwhile, Labour and the Liberal Democrats became embroiled in a row over the age of Mr Sharma. |
| Labour 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 majority 6,956 (24.86%) 11.06% swing Lab to Lib Dems | 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 Dems |
| Ealing Southall results: | Ealing Southall results: |
| Virendra Sharma (Lab) 15,188 (41.48%, -7.28%) Nigel Bakhai (LD) 10,118 (27.63%, +3.19%) Tony Lit (C) 8,230 (22.48%, +0.91%) Sarah Edwards (Green) 1,135 (3.10%, -1.52%) Salvinder Dhillon (Respect) 588 (1.61%) Dr Kunnathur Rajan (UKIP) 285 (0.78%) Yaqub Masih (Ch P) 280 (0.76%) Jasdev Rai (Ind) 275 (0.75%) John Cartwright (Loony) 188 (0.51%) Sati Chaggar (Eng Dem) 152 (0.42%) Gulbash Singh (Ind) 92 (0.25%) Kuldeep Grewal (Ind) 87 (0.24%) Lab maj 5,070 (13.85%) 5.24% swing Lab to Lib Dems | Virendra Sharma (Lab) 15,188 (41.48%, -7.28%) Nigel Bakhai (LD) 10,118 (27.63%, +3.19%) Tony Lit (C) 8,230 (22.48%, +0.91%) Sarah Edwards (Green) 1,135 (3.10%, -1.52%) Salvinder Dhillon (Respect) 588 (1.61%) Dr Kunnathur Rajan (UKIP) 285 (0.78%) Yaqub Masih (Ch P) 280 (0.76%) Jasdev Rai (Ind) 275 (0.75%) John Cartwright (Loony) 188 (0.51%) Sati Chaggar (Eng Dem) 152 (0.42%) Gulbash Singh (Ind) 92 (0.25%) Kuldeep Grewal (Ind) 87 (0.24%) Lab maj 5,070 (13.85%) 5.24% swing Lab to Lib Dems |