THE Conservatives have won the Norwich North by-election with 28 year-old candidate Chloe Smith becoming Britain's youngest Member of Parliament.
Graham Dines
THE Conservatives have won the Norwich North by-election with 28 year-old candidate Chloe Smith becoming Britain's youngest Member of Parliament.
She overturned a Labour majority of 5,459 to win by 7,348 in the by-election caused by the resignation of popular Dr Ian Gibson over expenses irregularities.
No amount of Labour spin can downplay this sensational result - there was a swing from Labour to the Tories of 16.49%.
UKIP were fourth ahead of the Greens, with both parties saving their deposits.
The result was:
Chloe Smith (Conservative) 13,591
Chirs Ostrowski (Labour) 6,243
Glenn Tingle (UKIP) 4,068
April Pond (Lib Dem) 4,803
Rupert Read (Green) 3,350
Craig Murray (Honest Man) 953
Robert West (BNP) 941
Bill Holden (Ind) 166
Alan "Howling Laud" Hope (Loony) 144
Anne Fryatt (NOTA) 59
Thomas Burridge (Libertarian) 36
Peter Baggs (Ind) 23
Con majority 7,348 (21.37%). 16.49% swing Lab to Con.
Labour candidate Chris Ostrowski was not present at the count and by-election because he is suffering from swine flu.
Turnout was 45.8%, compared to 61.09% at the 2005 General Election.
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