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Gordon Brown hit by poll disaster
24.07.09
David Cameron and Chloe Smith celebrate Norwich North victory
Gordon Brown was fending off angry recriminations after Labour crashed to a humiliating defeat in the Norwich North by-election.
In the first "expenses by-election", Labour's vote collapsed from more than 21,000 at the last general election to a pitiful 6,243.
Conservative businesswoman Chloe Smith romped home with a thumping majority of 7,348 and, at just 27, becomes the youngest MP in the Commons. The huge 16.49 per cent swing would give David Cameron a massive Commons majority of 218 if repeated across the country.
Mr Brown was also reeling today from appalling news on the economy - a shock 0.8 per cent slump in output that dashed hopes of an early end to the recession.
Tory leader Mr Cameron immediately headed to the Norfolk seat for a victory rally but in reality the voting figures were unsettling for all three major parties.
The Conservative vote, at 13,591, was lower than the 15,638 that the party polled when it came second in the 2005 election. Ukip and the Greens put on votes - both up from around 1,200 votes to more than 4,000 each. Turnout was about 45 per cent, typical for a by-election.
It was the clearest possible evidence that huge numbers of voters are bitterly angry and disgusted with the mainstream parties after the disclosures about MPs milking their expenses.
Labour's deputy leader Harriet Harman admitted it was “a very disappointing result” but claimed the Conservatives had little to celebrate. “It's more about our voters staying at home and going to other, smaller parties rather than switching to the Conservatives,” she said.
Labour candidate Chris Ostrowski missed the count with swine flu. Ms Smith hailed the result as “a vote for change” that sent a message that the Prime Minister was no longer wanted. “Roll on the general election when the British people also have the opportunity to vote for change,” she said.
Within the Labour ranks, losing another by-election was no surprise but there was seething anger at what was seen as a self-inflicted wound.
Senior MP Tony Wright accused the Prime Minister of bringing it on by trying to look “tough”. Former MP Ian Gibson resigned from Parliament in protest when the party leadership banned him from standing at the next general election, ostensibly because of his expenses claims but, MPs suspect, because the Left-winger was a convenient victim to make Mr Brown look strong.
“I think he was a victim of a moment when all the parties, and all the party leaders, were falling over each other to show how tough they were being, ” said Mr Wright, chairman of the Commons public administration committee.
There were no signs of any organised plot against Mr Brown this afternoon. But one senior minister said Mr Brown's supporters were expecting an attempt to oust him this autumn. “It won't be at party conference, but it will probably come soon afterwards.”
Reader views (36)
Hysterical to hear all these Labour supporters talking about the 'low number of votes for the Tories' when Chloe Smith's majority was greater than the total number of votes for the Labour party! Bring on the general election so we can send this failed experiment in socialism to the dustbin of history.
- Joe Bindloss, London, UK
May I refer you to the Rt Hon Jeremy Clarksons remarks.
Sums it all up.
- Edgar, London
Can't believe it, 6,200 idiots still voting £abour! And 13,000 other sheeple voting the Con Party. Good to see the over-hyped Greens get their just reward, a slap in their electoral face. The country is finished unless we wake up and ditch the old-gang parties and the media hyped Greens and UKIP.
- Jaybee, altrincham
Yes. Time to call it a day, Mr McRuin. Call it a day. You looked pooped mate, think of your family. Labour are a lost cause now, even your buddy Mr Meddlesome Pete must be thinking so too. So watch your back, or you might find yourself being dumped at the Labour Party Conference later in the year.
McRuin, a 'Car Crash' in the offing!!
- Uncle Vanya, East Anglia Area UK
I read here, " well done Gordon " and " Death of Labour "..lets be clear Blair and Gordon have never represented the true Labour Voter, the workers, yes the middle class and yes the wealth creaters as well. What they stood for was a semiquasi docterine of leftie propaganda and mind control policys and ideas that were hell bent on destroying the fabric of this Country and leave us begging for full admission into the EU Dictator State.
Sadly the other 2 Parties are also cut from the same cloth as far as Europe is concerned, so despite their retoric of change- they are tied to the EU Apron Strings and Laws, so things will continue much as they have been, a slow. desperate slide into a 3rd World economey where we are likely to be the ' financial migrants'; as we flee in search of work and substrance.
Oh what a Country we might have had if we had not wasted money on the EU, Wars and PPP's .
Funny how so many other Countries Manage without the EU??
- Clif, London
Keith, if that be your name, I second your congratulations, would this result be repeated in each and every constituency in a general election.
Will that still be your line then, and please do disclose your grade and position within the PLP or civil service?
- Hugh, Middx
People in the UK have had enough of the New Labour party and thay will be voted out in the next election, bar some unforeseen circumstance(s).
Although Brown will be disappointed with his own inability to set the agenda for the country and be seen as a good prime minister, his real focus has always been on getting Britain anchored into the EU, with Blair as president, thereby perpetuating the New Labour dynasty.
Don't feel sorry for Brown - Feel sorry for the future for your children as New Labour dominates in Europe.
- Kris, London, England
At long last the people realalise the situation this man has got the country into! First at no 11 and now at no 10.First he sold off OUR Gold reserves at an all time low,then he raped OUR pensions by withdrawing tax relief.Not to mention Tax by stelf.
If the Party does not get rid of him, Then the people must
VIVA THE REVOLUTION
- Bill Williams, Chateau Gontier France
Keith Price - thank you for itemising those interesting statistics. Does that mean that Nuliebour did, in fact, win, not lose, the Norwich by-election?
- Dee Jay, Fleet UK
It is time the electorate took their revenge
- Brian Edmonds, Farnham UK
So when is Cameron going to be brave enough to deal with his corrupt lot or will he just keep Ducking the argument by pulling up his moat!!
- Melvyn Windebank, Canvey Island, Essex
In fact the Tory percentage of the vote rose from 33% at the 2005 election to 40% this time around."
What a miniscule swing from Labour considering the depression. And the fact is the no. of Tury votes fell considerably
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Pretty soon Crash Gordon will only have 1 possible vote left... He will always remain the worst British prime minister, and un-elected at it.
- Jacqueline, Hampstead, London
What a pitifull turnout. The tories have nothing to be proud of. The big picture is that despite Labour turning this country into a police state, the tories didn't even poll what they polled last time round.
Democracy is becoming a sham controlled by the Liblabcon party, and the electorate know it.
- Jeremy Owen, Hook
So Gordon's supporters think there will be a plot to oust him in the Autumn. Good. I hate Gordon more than I hate Labour.
The public will finish the job in 2010 and remove the rest of Labour.
- Jonathan, UK
Goodbye cluesless Brown and good riddance you have ruined this country over the last 11 years or so get out now so that the Tories do not have to spend next 20 years sorting you and your other muppet PM Blair
- Mike, London England and once GREAT Britain
Rob from London, quite right, Brown thinks that if he, and Harperson, say it often enough, the electorate might believe it.
- Dee Jay, Fleet UK
It's all a part of being the worst prime minister for a hundred years.
- Edwin, beaconsfield buckinghamshire
Roll on the general election the electorat are now gearing up to send this rabble of a government to its death doomed to the history books for doing to Britain what Hitler failed to do
- Brian Clarke, Dunmow England
Alan Preen, Texas is a lot more like a Banana Republic than the UK; more murders per annum than the whole of the British Isles, let alone the UK.
I know Norfolk people and in a few months time they'll all be grumbling that their new MP, elected in a fit of pique, is not anything as good as Ian Gibson. Wait and see folks!
- Dectora, London UK
Keith Price, Luton, England
Are your for real? I mean seriously, you can level with me, you are on the wind up aren't you???
Nobody can possibly follow so blindly as to believe that El Gordo and pals are anything other than dead in the water, and are sinking fast - hopefully without a trace for a long, long time to come.
- M, London
Did Gordon really think he had a chance If he did then its just further proof of how he has become totaly isolated from the public
- David Smith, Croydon
If they think this is just down to expenses and the recession they really are as deluded as they are incompetent.
- Rob, London
Well done Keith, not even your misplaced loyalty can save Bluster Brown. In fact the Tory percentage of the vote rose from 33% at the 2005 election to 40% this time around. It's revealing to know that people like you, and other Labour chancers, are still in the business of spinning bad news. LOL.
- Paddy, Croydon Uk
I see that Keith Price clutching at straws again.
- Dee Jay, Fleet UK
What life experience can a 27 year old possibly bring to parliament? I'm pleased for her and the conservatives but its another nail in the coffin for politics as far as I am concerned.
- Geoff, In the country
Well done Gordon Brown?! I quite agree! Well done for causing the death of Labour, well done for showing us exactly what these lefties stand for, well done for helping the electorate finally see the shallowness of New Labour. Well done Gord, you done us proud, lad!
- Richard, London
OMG What a silly looking tory baffoon Good Luck LMAO
- Steve, England
Well done Labour and leader Goedon Brown for coming 2nd, and for making the Tory vote fall so much since the last election
- Keith Price, Luton, England
"Harman's and Bradshaw's inane comments on this by-election disaster for New Labour says it all - THEY JUST DON'T GET IT!"
Harriet was spot on, though, when she rightly said that the Tory voye was well down on the General Election, despite the Labour Party being at an all time low in the polls. So little for the Tories to cheer there, I'm afraid
- Keith Price, Luton, England
Grim news for Gordon means great news for Britain.
- Joe Blogs, Lewes, Sussex, UK
Don't care if it is labour or conservatives -- it is all politics as usual. What could possibly qualify this 27 year old for office other than conformity to the agenda of her political machine?
- Greg, London, UK
C'mon Keith Price of Luton, don't let us down now, we need your weird opinions on this result just so that we can all have good laugh. Or have you been confined to your padded cell for few days.
- Pat, South London
This was sooooo unexpected!
Alan Partridge will be jumping for joy! ahaaaa
- Gman, Kent
Harman's and Bradshaw's inane comments on this by-election disaster for New Labour says it all - THEY JUST DON'T GET IT!
- Ted, London
What else did the fool expect after his lot have reduced the country to a banana republic.
- Alan Preen, McLean, Texas, USA.
