Labour pasted in Brent East by-election
Tony Blair’s new communications team has a damage limitation exercise to confront today after the Liberal Democrats shocked the political world by taking the safe north London seat of Brent East in the parliamentary byelection.
Lib Dem candidate, Sarah Teather, received more than 1,100 votes more than her nearest rival, overturning Labour’s 13,047 majority with a 29 per cent swing to her party.
The Lib Dems opposed the Iraq war.
Ms Teather received 8,158 votes against 7,040 for Mr Evans. The 29-year old becomes the youngest Member of Parliament.
The result means Labour loses its first Commons seat in a byelection for 15 years.
Charles Kennedy will have a swing in his step at he travels to his party’s annual party conference next week.
For Mr Blair and Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith the opposite is true.
“This is not just a big boost for the Liberal Democrats, it is a big boost for British politics. We have shown that there is no such thing as a no-go area for the Liberal Democrats.
“In Britain’s most diverse community, we have shown that we can speak for every section of society and the Liberal Democrat message is one they want to hear and support,” said Charles Kennedy.
The result compounds to the PM’s summer of discontent. Mr Blair has faced public outcry over the Iraq war, the suicide of Iraqi weapons inspector Dr David Kelly and public service reform in general.
The Tory candidate Uma Fernandes slumped to third place, dropping down a place from the result in the 2001 general election.
Turnout was 36.4 per cent.
Mid term blues are a familiar element of British politics but the swing away from Labour clearly demonstrates voter discontent with the Blair administration.
“We are going through a bad patch, no doubt about it,” said government minister Nick Raynsford.
The by-election came about after the early death of Paul Daisley, former Brent Borough Council leader, who died on June 18, aged 45.
