This is an update and correction to my earlier . New items or corrections are in colour
I end it with some comments from POLITICS HOME
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The Norwich North by election - won by the Conservatives is remarkable in that the Tory vote moved to 13,591 (a 39.5% share) - down from 15.638, (-13%) the Labour vote at 6,243 was down from 21,097 (-70%) with the Lib Dems on 4,803 (- 37%) and UKIP close behind on 4.068 (+ 262% !) [nimble fingers made a boo-boo here). The Greens got 3,350 (+ 168%)
Others (7 of then including BNP on 941) 2, 322 (308 before with one candidate) The 'other parties' - UKIP, Greens, BNP and the rest - got 27% against a modest 8.6% before
This makes the total vote 36.424 against 47,034 at the General election or -23% [nb “turnout cannot yet be calculated because we do not know the size of the electorate yet, though the media give a figure based on the 2005 electorate)
Well the Tories achieved their object , with a fall in their vote of less than the fall in the total votes and an overturning of a Labour 5,459 majority. But the lesson is clear. The public are worried and cross. All by-elections produce a lower turnout than general elections but this was - contrary to what I wrote earlier - higher than average.
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13.08 Culture Secretary Ben Bradshaw concedes the Labour loss in Norwich North is disappointing, but not as bad for the Party as last year’s by-election defeats
14.19 The Prime Minister responds for the first time saying it is "a clearly diasappointing result", and warns that all parties except those at the fringes should not be too happy.
14.38 Also on BBC News, Andrew Hawkins from ComRes concludes those who think the Conservatives have done very well "are right". [I can’t discover the rationale for him saying this! -cs]
Christina
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