14/01/2011

'First Step' Victory For Labour

Ed Miliband has described the by-election win as the "first step in a long journey" for the Labour party.

The Labour leader added the Oldham East and Saddleworth win, with a majority of 3,558, sent a "clear message" to the government.

Coming second Liberal Democrat Elwyn Watkins marginally increased the party's vote share on last year's result.

The Conservatives vote share was halved. However they deny "soft pedalling" to aid their coalition partners.

The Greater Manchester by-election was called after a special court found Phil Woolas, ex-Labour minister, made false statements about Mr Watkins in May's general election, in which Labour retained the seat by just 103 votes over the Lib Dems.

The ruling resulted in Mr Woolas being barred from politics for three years.

In Thursday's by-election Labour secured a much stronger victory with 3,558 votes ahead of the Liberal Democrats 14,718 votes. The party's share of the vote increased from 31.9% to 42%.

(BMcN/GK)

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