Labour narrowly wins Hartlepool

**4me2** · 1st October 2004

<TABLE cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=0 width=629 border=0><TBODY><TR><TD colSpan=3>Labour narrowly wins Hartlepool

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Labour candidate Iain Wright was 2,033 votes ahead of the Lib Dems

</TD></TR></TBODY></TABLE>Labour has won the Hartlepool by-election with a reduced majority, as the Conservatives were beaten into fourth place.

Victorious Iain Wright secured 12,752 votes - 2,033 ahead of Jody Dunn of the Liberal Democrats, on 10,719.

Stephen Allison, of the UK Independence Party, received 3,193 votes, 149 more than Conservative Jeremy Middleton.

The election was caused by the resignation of Peter Mandelson, who held a 14,571 majority for Labour.

He left his seat to become a European Commissioner.

During the 2001 general election, the Conservatives came second to Labour with the Liberal Democrats third and the Socialist Labour party fourth.

Purple powder

Ms Dunn, a family lawyer, had purple powder thrown over her as she took to the podium to thank her supporters.

BBC News Online's Chris Hamilton, in the hall, said she looked visibly distressed.

Fathers 4 Justice candidate Paul Watson was arrested over the incident and released on police bail. He is due to be questioned later this month.

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</TD><TD class=sibtbg>Hartlepool By-election Results
1-Iain Wright (Labour) 12,752
2-Jody Dunn (Lib Dem) 10,719
3-Stephen Allison (UKIP) 3,193
4-Jeremy Middleton (Conservative) 3,044
5-John Bloom (Respect) 572
6-Iris Ryder (Green) 255
7-James Starkey (NF) 246
8-Paul Watson (F4J) 139
9-Christopher Herriot (Socialist Labour) 95
10-Richard Rodgers (Common Good) 91
11-Philip Berriman (Ind) 90
12-Alan 'Howling Laud' Hope (Monster Raving Looney) 80
13-Ronnie Carroll (Ind) 45
14-Edward Abrams (English Democrats) 41

Tories admit by-election 'blow'

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Mr Wright, a local councillor, was subjected to raucous jeering as he made his victory speech.

He said: "Tonight's result is great news for Tony Blair, a huge disappointment for Charles Kennedy and an absolute disaster for Michael Howard.

"I have always been proud to come from Hartlepool but I have never been prouder than tonight."

Mr Mandelson said in a statement: "Iain Wright will be a first rate MP and he could not wish for better constituents."

In contrast, the result will be seen as a huge blow to the Conservatives, whose party conference begins this weekend.

Shadow work and pensions secretary David Willetts said: "This is very disappointing. There is no point in pretending otherwise.

But Mr Willetts said his party's fortunes would improve at the next general election and ruled out a change of leader.

Commons Leader Peter Hain told BBC News 24: "It is terrific news for Tony Blair in a week when actually he has been hammered in the newspapers and by the critics.

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Lib Dem candidate Jody Dunn was covered in purple powder

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"Of course, he and his family are now very concerned about the procedure on Friday, as we all are. We are thinking of him. It is great news for him.

"The main news tonight is an absolute catastrophe for the Conservative Party and for Michael Howard, who has simply shown he is not taking them anywhere."

Labour went into the by-election with a 158-seat majority in the House of Commons, with 406 seats, against 163 for the Conservatives. The turnout in Hartlepool was just under 46%, compared with 56% at the 2001 general election. 

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk_politics/3705866.stm

**CzarJunkie** · 1st October 2004

Whoooo hooooo, Labour hold and the Tories beaten into 4th place, at last a section of the country with some sense. :thumbs

ABCMan · 1st October 2004

Originally Posted by CzarJunkie

Whoooo hooooo, Labour hold and the Tories beaten into 4th place, at last a section of the country with some sense. :thumbs

yes, this is the same part of the country that had the sense to elect a guy in a monkey suit as mayor, and of course to prove that it has to be genetic in that area its the same place that hanged a monkey because they thought it was a french spy oh and they also elected peter mandleson.

need i say more?