Hartlepool result confirms Lib Dem surge.

4.10.31pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 8th Oct 2004

On 30th September Jody Dunn took the Liberal Democrats from third place to second in Hartlepool slashing the majority of 17,000 to 2,000 with a swing of 19%. The Tories crashed from second into fourth place, trailing in behind both the Liberal Democrats and the UK Independence Party.

This result confirms the trend of massive swings from Labour to the Liberal Democrats across huge areas of what are seen as traditional Labour heartlands.

Mike Crockart, Edinburgh North and Leith's Liberal Democrat local spokesperson said, "The last year, since Sarah Teather won Brent East, has seen spectacularly good results at election after election for the Liberal Democrats. Labour activists are trying to put on a brave face and find some comfort in only losing two of the four by-elections in their 'safe' seats, but in reality their support is in free-fall and the signs of panic are obvious."

"Meanwhile, the Tories seem to prove time after time that the voters find them an unpalatable alternative.

To misquote Oscar Wilde,

'To lose one by-election, Mr Howard, may be regarded as a misfortune; to lose both looks like carelessness', but to lose four in a row in ever-worsening circumstances, can only be regarded as a complete rejection by the British electorate."

Notes:

Brent East -

Lib Dem vote up 28%

Labour vote down 29%

Conservatives finish poor third.

Leicester South -

Lib Dem vote up 17 %

Labour vote down 25%

Conservatives finish poor third

Birmingham Hodge Hill -

Lib Dem vote up 26%

Labour vote down 27%

Conservatives finish poor third

Hartlepool -

Lib Dem vote up 19%

Labour vote down 18%

Conservatives finish fourth