Menu
01/10/2004
Labour hold Hartlepool as Tories are beaten into fourth
Labour has won the Hartlepool by-election but saw its massive 17,000 vote majority held by Peter Mandelson at the last general election slashed to just 2,000.
While the Labour victory celebrations will be tinged with relief that the Lib Dems just failed to secure the seat, the Tory Party will be smarting today from the shattering blow dealt to them by the north east constituency's electorate.
For the first time since the Second World War, the official Opposition failed even to take third -the party's 3,044 votes placed Tory candidate Jeremy Middleton fourth behind the UKIP's Stephen Allison who took 3,193 votes.
Labour's Iain Wright attracted 40% of the turnout with 12,752 votes and the Lib Dems' Jody Dunn received 10,719 votes.
Hartlepool's new MP, 32-year-old councillor Iain Wright said that the vote was a "disastrous" result for the Tories.
"Tonight's result is great news for Tony Blair, a huge disappointment for Charles Kennedy and an absolute disaster for Michael Howard," he said.
The Lib Dems paid tribute to their candidate for achieving a swing of 19%, and also heaped scorn on the Tories.
Lib Dem party president Simon Hughes said: "The Tories have not just been overtaken, they have been left in the lay-by and overtaken by UKIP. It is the only time the Tories have gone from second to fourth since the Tory Party was formed."
Lord Rennard, the Liberal Democrat campaign chief, said: "This has been a solid Labour town for 40 years. We are now seeing a pattern in which the Tories start in second place and end up third, and now fourth".
Conservative Party Co-Chairman Dr Liam Fox acknowledged that the result had been "disappointing" for them.
Dr Fox blamed the Conservative setback on tactical voting, with voters "switching to the Liberal Democrats in a bid to hammer Tony Blair".
He added: "It is pointless to try to read anything into this result for the Conservatives. In the 1992-7 Parliament, Labour was badly beaten on a number of occasions in exactly the same set of circumstances, but went on to win a huge majority at the 1997 election.
"I am confident that those who were tempted to vote UKIP in a by-election, which isn't going to change a government, will look at those alternatives and back the Conservatives."
The UKIP's Roger Knapman said that the by-election demonstrated that his party could expect to win seats at the next general election.
“We beat the Liberal Democrats in the European elections. We beat the Conservatives tonight. We are on our way,” he said.
(gmcg/mb)
While the Labour victory celebrations will be tinged with relief that the Lib Dems just failed to secure the seat, the Tory Party will be smarting today from the shattering blow dealt to them by the north east constituency's electorate.
For the first time since the Second World War, the official Opposition failed even to take third -the party's 3,044 votes placed Tory candidate Jeremy Middleton fourth behind the UKIP's Stephen Allison who took 3,193 votes.
Labour's Iain Wright attracted 40% of the turnout with 12,752 votes and the Lib Dems' Jody Dunn received 10,719 votes.
Hartlepool's new MP, 32-year-old councillor Iain Wright said that the vote was a "disastrous" result for the Tories.
"Tonight's result is great news for Tony Blair, a huge disappointment for Charles Kennedy and an absolute disaster for Michael Howard," he said.
The Lib Dems paid tribute to their candidate for achieving a swing of 19%, and also heaped scorn on the Tories.
Lib Dem party president Simon Hughes said: "The Tories have not just been overtaken, they have been left in the lay-by and overtaken by UKIP. It is the only time the Tories have gone from second to fourth since the Tory Party was formed."
Lord Rennard, the Liberal Democrat campaign chief, said: "This has been a solid Labour town for 40 years. We are now seeing a pattern in which the Tories start in second place and end up third, and now fourth".
Conservative Party Co-Chairman Dr Liam Fox acknowledged that the result had been "disappointing" for them.
Dr Fox blamed the Conservative setback on tactical voting, with voters "switching to the Liberal Democrats in a bid to hammer Tony Blair".
He added: "It is pointless to try to read anything into this result for the Conservatives. In the 1992-7 Parliament, Labour was badly beaten on a number of occasions in exactly the same set of circumstances, but went on to win a huge majority at the 1997 election.
"I am confident that those who were tempted to vote UKIP in a by-election, which isn't going to change a government, will look at those alternatives and back the Conservatives."
The UKIP's Roger Knapman said that the by-election demonstrated that his party could expect to win seats at the next general election.
“We beat the Liberal Democrats in the European elections. We beat the Conservatives tonight. We are on our way,” he said.
(gmcg/mb)
Related UK National News Stories
Click here for the latest headlines.
24 July 2009
Tories Win Norwich North Seat
A Conservative candidate has won the parliamentary by-election in Norwich North, taking a majority of over 7,000. There was more than a 15% fall in voter turnout at the polls, the first major Westminster ballot since revelations over MPs' expenses. Conservative runner Chloe Smith secured the vote, overturning a 2005 Labour majority of over 5,000.
Tories Win Norwich North Seat
A Conservative candidate has won the parliamentary by-election in Norwich North, taking a majority of over 7,000. There was more than a 15% fall in voter turnout at the polls, the first major Westminster ballot since revelations over MPs' expenses. Conservative runner Chloe Smith secured the vote, overturning a 2005 Labour majority of over 5,000.
14 June 2004
Labour slam Tories despite receiving worst vote since 1918
Despite putting in its worst electoral performance since 1918, the Labour Party has claimed that the European elections represented a "disaster for the Tories". The Tories achieved a 27.4% share of the vote and 25 seats in the European Parliament – they also attracted 36% of the local election voters. Labour won 17 MEPs seats with 22.
Labour slam Tories despite receiving worst vote since 1918
Despite putting in its worst electoral performance since 1918, the Labour Party has claimed that the European elections represented a "disaster for the Tories". The Tories achieved a 27.4% share of the vote and 25 seats in the European Parliament – they also attracted 36% of the local election voters. Labour won 17 MEPs seats with 22.
19 April 2010
'Clegg Vote Is Vote For Brown', Warn Tories
David Cameron has again warned voters that any votes cast for Nick Clegg could leave Labour in power. The Tories claim Gordon Brown could lose the election but remain Prime Minister for five more years thanks to a Lib Dem surge inspired by last week's TV debate triumph for party leader, Nick Clegg.
'Clegg Vote Is Vote For Brown', Warn Tories
David Cameron has again warned voters that any votes cast for Nick Clegg could leave Labour in power. The Tories claim Gordon Brown could lose the election but remain Prime Minister for five more years thanks to a Lib Dem surge inspired by last week's TV debate triumph for party leader, Nick Clegg.
04 October 2004
Labour has turned Britain into 'intruder state', Tories claim
The Labour Party has been accused of eroding the nation's historic liberties, strangling self-reliance and turning Britain into an "intruder state", at the Tory Party's annual conference in Bournemouth today.
Labour has turned Britain into 'intruder state', Tories claim
The Labour Party has been accused of eroding the nation's historic liberties, strangling self-reliance and turning Britain into an "intruder state", at the Tory Party's annual conference in Bournemouth today.
01 February 2010
Mandelson Blasts Tory Spending Plans
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has launched a stinging attack on Tory spending proposals, which he claims would "strangle the recovery at birth". The second highest ranking cabinet figure warned a government led by David Cameron would damage the UK economy by £11 billion.
Mandelson Blasts Tory Spending Plans
Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has launched a stinging attack on Tory spending proposals, which he claims would "strangle the recovery at birth". The second highest ranking cabinet figure warned a government led by David Cameron would damage the UK economy by £11 billion.
-
Northern Ireland WeatherThis Evening and Tonight:Showers, scattered in the evening, will clear by midnight leaving the night dry with clear spells. Perhaps a touch of ground frost. Cloud will spread east towards morning. Minimum temperature 2 °C.
