John
01-14-2011, 08:06 AM
The coalition has suffered a bloody nose in its first by-election as Labour romped home in Oldham East and Saddleworth.
Debbie Abrahams was declared the constituency's new MP with a majority of 3,558 - larger than the party secured in its 1997 landslide.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg played down the significance of the defeat, blaming the Government's programme of painful spending cuts.
But the margin of Labour's victory will heighten the pressure on the Deputy Prime Minister from his own rank-and-file. And it came despite suggestions that David Cameron tried to help out his coalition partner by ordering a lacklustre Tory campaign.
Labour leader Ed Miliband will also seize on the strong showing after what has been seen as a faltering start at the party's helm.
The Opposition's activists had voiced optimism after a mild afternoon in the constituency pushed turnout to a respectable 48.06%. And by midnight it was clear that their candidate had triumphed, with the Lib Dems trying to limit damage by predicting a "decent second" for Elwyn Watkins.
The by-election was called after a special court declared last year's contest void due to Labour victor Phil Woolas making false statements about Lib Dem opponent Mr Watkins.
There had been expectations of a local backlash against Labour because of the circumstances, but the Lib Dems have slumped dramatically in the polls since entering the coalition and abandoning their pledge to oppose tuition fee hikes.
Despite finishing just 103 votes behind Labour in last May's general election, surveys last weekend found Mr Watkins trailing by a massive 17 points. In the event, he polled 11,160 votes to Ms Abrahams' 14,718. Tory Kashif Ali came a distant third with 4,481.
The Labour candidate said her victory was the "first step in a long journey" for her party, and branded coalition policies "reckless". "The voters have spoken for the country. They have sent a clear message for those watching in Downing Street," Ms Abrahams said. "Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg, you may be watching but now you have to listen."
Source - Yahoo.
Debbie Abrahams was declared the constituency's new MP with a majority of 3,558 - larger than the party secured in its 1997 landslide.
Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg played down the significance of the defeat, blaming the Government's programme of painful spending cuts.
But the margin of Labour's victory will heighten the pressure on the Deputy Prime Minister from his own rank-and-file. And it came despite suggestions that David Cameron tried to help out his coalition partner by ordering a lacklustre Tory campaign.
Labour leader Ed Miliband will also seize on the strong showing after what has been seen as a faltering start at the party's helm.
The Opposition's activists had voiced optimism after a mild afternoon in the constituency pushed turnout to a respectable 48.06%. And by midnight it was clear that their candidate had triumphed, with the Lib Dems trying to limit damage by predicting a "decent second" for Elwyn Watkins.
The by-election was called after a special court declared last year's contest void due to Labour victor Phil Woolas making false statements about Lib Dem opponent Mr Watkins.
There had been expectations of a local backlash against Labour because of the circumstances, but the Lib Dems have slumped dramatically in the polls since entering the coalition and abandoning their pledge to oppose tuition fee hikes.
Despite finishing just 103 votes behind Labour in last May's general election, surveys last weekend found Mr Watkins trailing by a massive 17 points. In the event, he polled 11,160 votes to Ms Abrahams' 14,718. Tory Kashif Ali came a distant third with 4,481.
The Labour candidate said her victory was the "first step in a long journey" for her party, and branded coalition policies "reckless". "The voters have spoken for the country. They have sent a clear message for those watching in Downing Street," Ms Abrahams said. "Mr Cameron, Mr Clegg, you may be watching but now you have to listen."
Source - Yahoo.