Even the BNP were more popular

[TheTruthHere]

What a shock result after people said they were sick of the fiddling.
.
.
http://www.dailymail....ace-Labour-storm.html
.

[AB Editor]

Has anyone got an example of a by-election in recent memory which has seen the Government retain their seat? They're almost always toppled aren't they?

[McMouse]

In this constituency labour could have fielded a turnip and still won.

[dotty.]

'The Government'? Do you mean the Conservatives? Or the other lot?

[jackthehat]

Baaaarnsley ?
That well-known hot-bed of Tory activists.......?
As McM says the other candidates were always going to be also-rans...

[TheTruthHere]

Someone has been put in prison that is why this is taking place would you not think that it would put a lot of people off voting for that party.

<<Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has insisted he would not be knocked off course by
his party's "kicking" in the Barnsley Central by-election, where they finished sixth
behind Ukip and the British National Party.>>


When the UKIP and BNP get more votes than Cleggs mob does that that tell you something.

[jackthehat]

Yes.
That you are in die-hard Labour country.

[TheTruthHere]

jackthehat << Yes.
That you are in die-hard Labour country. >>

So that is why more people voted for the BNP and UKIP than the Clegg mob it is a die hard Labour country

[Gromit]

UKIP getting 50% more votes than the Conservatives will alarm the Tories. Predictions of the LibDems demise may not be that wrong. When the cuts really take hold they will be really unpopular.

[jackthehat]

The result that matters is that Labour held on to a seat it had no danger of losing.
The less than 40% of voters who *didn't* vote for labour splitting their vote amongst the remainder contributed to a 7.5% increase for UKIP and a *minus* 2.9% change for BNP.

[TheTruthHere]

The area i live in has had Labour in charge for years and i always thought Labour voters hated the BNP and the Tory voters were more likely to vote for them if not Tory.
I am probably wrong Jack but i will take your word for it.

[Gromit]

AB Editor.

The last Government (2005-10), Labour won 4 bye elections where they were the incumbent (5 if you include the Speakers constituency).

They also lost 4 seats in the lifetime of that Government.

http://en.wikipedia.o...ns#Present_Parliament

[AB Editor]

Thanks Gromit, nothing came to mind is all.

[Davethedog]

Anyone who thinks this is a lib dem blip is wrong. What has happened to the Tory vote is what you would expect but the Lib dems have been decimated.

If you look at the percentages which in a by election are the big number, Labours is the only percentage that grew, now spin doctors would have you belive that on a reduced turn out in a "safe" seat it isn't a problem, but in the last election Labours % was 47.7 today is 60.8. And if all the other parties had lackadasical voters then why didn't Labour? The only other party that increased its share of the vote was UKIP.

Given the reason for the by election, you would of thought that Labour would have been in "skin of the teeth" territory.

Lib-Dems won't exist in 4 years.

[Davethedog]

Soz UKIP and Labour grew not just Labour.

[TheTruthHere]

Thing is Dave this lot want to change the way we vote if it comes in will we see racist mp's sitting in the house.

[Davethedog]

Agree TTH but the thier Tory masters won't allow it :-D

[bazwillrun]

"racist mp's"

perhaps youre confusing them with mps that want to try and save the identity and cultural heritage of the country, but then its a trendy word to bandy about for anybody that stands up for their national birthright

[youngmafbog]

Looks like another lefty love in here again.

This poll shows NOTHING. Low turnout in a labour stronglhold. Teh Tories and libs will take a hit as they try to clearup labours mess. What matters is in 5 years time.

And people vote for the party, the fact the last incumbant was corrupt does not by any means mean all labour MP's are corrupt so it has no bearing. (Apart from a few thickos I suppose, but doubt they could find their way to a polling station)

[Davethedog]

youngmafbog ?? What?

This has nothing to do with right or left it has everything to do with trust. I am sure that come the next election the Tories will be as strong if not stronger, as I said you would expect the Tory blip. The lib-dems are bust.

And how is it a lefty love in? You disagree so its lefty Isame as ever you have no actual argument but repeat the bleatings of party spin doctors. Its about time you actualy thought for yourself.

[Gromit]

youngmafbog

When the LibDems lose the AV vote, what will their reason be for supporting the Conservative Party for another 4 years?