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| Eastleigh by-election: Liberal Democrats hold on to Hampshire seat | Eastleigh by-election: Liberal Democrats hold on to Hampshire seat |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| The Liberal Democrats have held on to the Hampshire seat of Eastleigh, with their candidate Mike Thornton winning a majority of 1,771 votes. | The Liberal Democrats have held on to the Hampshire seat of Eastleigh, with their candidate Mike Thornton winning a majority of 1,771 votes. |
| Mr Thornton said there was "no greater honour" than to represent the constituency, and pledged to be a "strong voice for every person" in it. | Mr Thornton said there was "no greater honour" than to represent the constituency, and pledged to be a "strong voice for every person" in it. |
| The UK Independence Party's candidate Diane James beat the Conservatives into third place by 1,012 votes. | The UK Independence Party's candidate Diane James beat the Conservatives into third place by 1,012 votes. |
| The results indicate a 19.3% swing from the Lib Dems to UKIP. | The results indicate a 19.3% swing from the Lib Dems to UKIP. |
| Conservative candidate Maria Hutchings won 10,559 votes, representing a 14% reduction compared with her share of the vote at the 2010 general election, when she came second to Chris Huhne. | Conservative candidate Maria Hutchings won 10,559 votes, representing a 14% reduction compared with her share of the vote at the 2010 general election, when she came second to Chris Huhne. |
| UKIP increased its share of the vote by just over 24 percentage points, while the Lib Dems sealed victory despite reducing their vote share by over 14 percentage points. | |
| 'Heart attack' | 'Heart attack' |
| UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "If the Conservatives hadn't split our vote we would have won." | UKIP leader Nigel Farage said: "If the Conservatives hadn't split our vote we would have won." |
| "What happened here in Eastleigh was not a freak result. Something is changing. | "What happened here in Eastleigh was not a freak result. Something is changing. |
| "People are sick and tired of having three social democrat parties that are frankly indistinguishable from each other," he added. | "People are sick and tired of having three social democrat parties that are frankly indistinguishable from each other," he added. |
| "If you want to have a managed migration policy, you cannot remain a member of the European Union. | "If you want to have a managed migration policy, you cannot remain a member of the European Union. |
| "My prediction is, that over the next year or two, as the European debate gathers pace in this country, the issue of immigration and border controls will become the absolute key to the whole thing." | "My prediction is, that over the next year or two, as the European debate gathers pace in this country, the issue of immigration and border controls will become the absolute key to the whole thing." |
| Mr Thornton has been a parish and borough councillor since 2007 and has lived in the local area for 19 years. | Mr Thornton has been a parish and borough councillor since 2007 and has lived in the local area for 19 years. |
| "The people of Eastleigh recognise that the Liberal Democrats have always had a superb record of delivery, we've always listened to what people want, and we always make sure that we do a good job," he told the BBC. | "The people of Eastleigh recognise that the Liberal Democrats have always had a superb record of delivery, we've always listened to what people want, and we always make sure that we do a good job," he told the BBC. |
| Even though the Eastleigh constituency did not change hands, this by-election will change politics: | Even though the Eastleigh constituency did not change hands, this by-election will change politics: |
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| The result is a reminder that politics is still local - a popular local council and strong local party helped the Eastleigh Lib Dems to weather a national storm. | The result is a reminder that politics is still local - a popular local council and strong local party helped the Eastleigh Lib Dems to weather a national storm. |
| That storm will now switch its focus to the Prime Minister who will face one question again and again from his own MPs and activists - what on earth do we do about UKIP? | That storm will now switch its focus to the Prime Minister who will face one question again and again from his own MPs and activists - what on earth do we do about UKIP? |
| He was "proud" that the "Liberal Democrat part in the coalition had done everything they can to provide decent tax cuts for ordinary working people, looking after our pensioners and helping our schools", he said. | He was "proud" that the "Liberal Democrat part in the coalition had done everything they can to provide decent tax cuts for ordinary working people, looking after our pensioners and helping our schools", he said. |
| The coalition had also helped the UK economy "recover from a very serious heart attack", he added. | The coalition had also helped the UK economy "recover from a very serious heart attack", he added. |
| Asked about his priorities as a new MP, he said: "I do have a business background, so my main focus will be do bring investment, like we have in Eastleigh, and see how we can scale that up to the country." | Asked about his priorities as a new MP, he said: "I do have a business background, so my main focus will be do bring investment, like we have in Eastleigh, and see how we can scale that up to the country." |
| Turnout was 52.7%, down from 69.3% at the 2010 general election. | |
| 'Not a target' | 'Not a target' |
| Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps said: "UKIP are the obvious protest vote in this election." | Conservative Party chairman Grant Shapps said: "UKIP are the obvious protest vote in this election." |
| He denied that his party's vote had "collapsed", adding: "Really what we need to do is redouble our efforts, so that by the next general election we have a story to tell which is all about... how the Conservative Party is leading the charge to put us in the right place on the issues that really matter." | He denied that his party's vote had "collapsed", adding: "Really what we need to do is redouble our efforts, so that by the next general election we have a story to tell which is all about... how the Conservative Party is leading the charge to put us in the right place on the issues that really matter." |
| But he cautioned: "Don't try and predict very much from the basis of a single by-election." | But he cautioned: "Don't try and predict very much from the basis of a single by-election." |
| Labour's candidate, the writer and broadcaster John O'Farrell, came fourth with 4,088 votes. | Labour's candidate, the writer and broadcaster John O'Farrell, came fourth with 4,088 votes. |
| Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said he had increased Labour's share of the vote "very slightly". But he added: "This is not a target seat for us." | Shadow business secretary Chuka Umunna said he had increased Labour's share of the vote "very slightly". But he added: "This is not a target seat for us." |
| Chris Huhne resigned as Eastleigh's MP earlier this month after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his former wife took speeding points for him. | Chris Huhne resigned as Eastleigh's MP earlier this month after pleading guilty to perverting the course of justice over claims his former wife took speeding points for him. |
| Results in full: | Results in full: |
| Mike Thornton (Liberal Democrat) 13,342 (32.06%, -14.48%) | Mike Thornton (Liberal Democrat) 13,342 (32.06%, -14.48%) |
| Diane James (UKIP) 11,571 (27.80%, +24.20%) | Diane James (UKIP) 11,571 (27.80%, +24.20%) |
| Maria Hutchings (Conservative) 10,559 (25.37%, -13.96%) | Maria Hutchings (Conservative) 10,559 (25.37%, -13.96%) |
| John O'Farrell (Labour) 4,088 (9.82%, +0.22%) | John O'Farrell (Labour) 4,088 (9.82%, +0.22%) |
| Danny Stupple (Independent) 768 (1.85%, +1.56%) | Danny Stupple (Independent) 768 (1.85%, +1.56%) |
| Dr Iain Maclennan (National Health Action Party) 392 (0.94%) | Dr Iain Maclennan (National Health Action Party) 392 (0.94%) |
| Ray Hall (Beer, Baccy and Crumpet Party) 235 (0.56%) | Ray Hall (Beer, Baccy and Crumpet Party) 235 (0.56%) |
| Kevin Milburn (Christian Party) 163 (0.39%) | Kevin Milburn (Christian Party) 163 (0.39%) |
| Howling Laud Hope (Monster Raving Loony Party) 136 (0.33%) | Howling Laud Hope (Monster Raving Loony Party) 136 (0.33%) |
| Jim Duggan (Peace Party) 128 (0.31%) | Jim Duggan (Peace Party) 128 (0.31%) |
| David Bishop (Elvis Loves Pets) 72 (0.17%) | David Bishop (Elvis Loves Pets) 72 (0.17%) |
| Michael Walters (English Democrats) 70 (0.17%, -0.30%) | Michael Walters (English Democrats) 70 (0.17%, -0.30%) |
| Daz Procter (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts) 62 (0.15%) | Daz Procter (Trade Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts) 62 (0.15%) |
| Colin Bex (Wessex Regionalist) 30 (0.07%) | Colin Bex (Wessex Regionalist) 30 (0.07%) |
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