Tories win Norwich North by-election

Norfolk Eastern Daily Press

Conservative candidate Chloe Smith was today named the new MP for Norwich North.

The 27-year-old romped to victory in the by-election, overturning Labour's 5,000-plus majority with a victory margin of more than 7,000 votes.

She received 13, 591 votes, with Labour candidate Chris Ostrowski receiving 6, 243, the Liberal Democrat’s April Pond 4, 803, UKIP’s Glenn Tingle 4, 068 and the Green’s Rupert Read 3, 350.

Miss Smith becomes the youngest MP in the country and the youngest MP for the Conservatives for 30 years and replaces Labour’s Ian Gibson, who resigned from his seat last month after the Labour star chamber told him he could not stand in the next general election following the expenses scandal.

The result is a devastating blow to Prime Minister Gordon Brown and the Labour Party.

Following the announcement, at 12.50pm today by acting returning officer Colin Bland, a delighted Miss Smith also paid tribute to Mr Gibson describing him as “an MP with a strong, independent and local voice”.

She said: “As a Conservative I may not agree with Mr Gibson’s views on everything but I intend to represent the people of Norwich North with the same enthusiasm and conviction.

“This has been a victory for honest politics. There is no doubt in making me your member of parliament today you have invested a great deal of responsibility in me and it is a responsibility I take with great pride and humility and it will be an honour to serve you and I will not let you down.

“Come the general election, if you feel I have not met my promises, you can vote me out.”

She pledged to campaign to get the NDR opened and to reopen a service at the walk-in centre at Dussindale.

Turnout for the by-election stood at just 45per cent, which will be seen in some quarters as another damning indictment of the public’s loss of faith in politicians following the expenses scandal. It is, however, about par for a by-election.

The figure is a massive drop though from 2005 general election when 61pc of people voted. People in Norwich North went to the polls yesterday and the Norfolk Showground count started this morning.

All of the candidates were present, apart from Mr Ostrowski who is still ill with swine flu. His wife Katie was on the platform for the announcement and said: “I can’t begin to tell you how devastated Chris is at not being here after quite literally being struck down by swine flu.

“Chris has asked me to thank Ian Gibson for 12 fantastic years as a Labour MP for Norwich North. I’m immensely proud of Chris and the campaign he has run. Together in this campaign we have made lots of new friends and met up with old friends. I’m sure he will be back on his feet before long and I can assure you that’s not the last you have heard of Chris Ostrowski.”

April Pond, Lib dem candidate, said: “I would like to thank the wonderful people of Norwich North for their support and I have enjoyed meeting everyone.”

She thanked Nick Clegg, Lib dem leader, for his support during her campaign and added: “I think this has been a disastrous result for Labour.”