Conservatives win Crewe and Nantwich by-election

May 23 2008 By James Shepherd

THE Crewe and Nantwich by-election has been won convincingly by Edward Timpson for the Conservatives.

Crewe and Nantwich had been considered a safe Labour seat, but Mr Timpson convincingly shrugged off the challenge of Tamsin Dunwoody, the daughter of the late Gwyneth Dunwoody whose death caused the by-election.

In scenes reminiscent of New Labour's spectacular by-election successes in the mid 1990s, jubilant Tories in Crewe and Nantwich celebrated as their candidate won with 20,539 votes, 49%. The result was on a high by-election turnout of 58.2%.

In his victory speech, Mr Timpson praised Gwyneth Dunwoody for the "pride, passion and fortitude" with which she worked for the people of Crewe and Nantwich and he thanked the people who voted for him, saying, "I'm on your side and I won't let you down".

And he said the voters had sent a clear message that "Gordon Brown doesn't get it and the Government needs to change".

It is the first Conservative gain in a by-election for 26 years and the first from Labour since 1978.

"We've won and we've won big." That was the response of Eric Pickles who steered the Conservative by-election campaign in Crewe.

Indeed such a dramatic win for the Tories spells some very difficult times ahead for Gordon Brown - undoubtedly leading to questions and Labour in-fighting over his tenure as PM.

Although there is no obvious challenger to Mr Brown, who become leader unopposed in June last year, Labour MPs with small majorities will fear that they cannot hang onto their seats unless the Prime Minister significantly improves his performance or is replaced.

Steve McCabe, the Labour whip who ran Labour's campaign, said: "This is a classic mid-term by-election. People wanted to give us a message that they are worried about the economic situation."

Defeated Labour candidate Tamsin Dunwoody shrugged off criticism of her tactics in the by-election campaign. Referring to attempts to depict Mr Timpson as a Tory toff, she called the campaign "robust but fun".

She also warned Mr Timpson: "It is an honour to serve the people of Crewe and Nantwich - an honour I hope you take seriously. I will be watching you."

The result was a personal boost to David Cameron who invested his authority in the by-election by making four visits to Crewe. The Tory leader, who aims to build on his success with a quick by-election in Henley after Boris Johnson's election as London mayor, also ordered Tory frontbenchers to make a minimum of three visits.

The results in full:

- Edward Timpson (Con) 20,539 (49.49%, +16.93%)

- Tamsin Dunwoody (Lab) 12,679 (30.55%, -18.29%)

- Elizabeth Shenton (Lib Dem) 6,040 (14.55%, -4.03%)

- Mike Nattrass (UKIP) 922 (2.22%)

- Robert Smith (Green) 359 (0.87%)

- David Roberts (Eng Dem) 275 (0.66%)

- The Flying Brick (Monster Raving Loony) 236 (0.57%)

- Mark Walklate (Ind) 217 (0.52%)

- Paul Thorogood (Cut Tax on Diesel and Petrol) 118 (0.28%)

- Gemma Garrett (Ind) 113 (0.27%)

(67 papers rejected)