Labour faces by-election test

Voting has been taking place today in the Crewe and Nantwich by-election.  

Coming on the back of Labour's poor showing in the London and local elections of May 1 and a rapidly deteriorating poll standing, it is being seen as another crucial test of the government.

 

The by-election was sparked by the death of Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, who had held the seat since 1983.

 

At the last election in 2005, Dunwoody was returned with a majority of more than 7,000.

 

However, a ComRes survey for the Independent, published on Tuesday, gave the Conservatives a 13-point lead on 48 per cent, compared with Labour's 35 per cent and the Lib Dems on 12 per cent.

 

As well as the difficult national picture in the middle of a third term, Labour have been accused of negative "class war" campaigning by accusing the millionaire Tory candidate Edward Timpson of being a "toff".

 

Labour's candidate and daughter of the late Gwyneth Dunwoody - Tamsin - has tried to convince voters that in contrast, she is "one of them."

 

Heavyweights from all the parties have been campaigning in the constituency though Gordon Brown has been criticised for not appearing.

 

Brown has said that by convention, the serving prime minister does not campaign in by-elections though David Cameron pointed out his predecessor Tony Blair did do so.

 

There had been speculation that a bad result for Labour could trigger a cabinet reshuffle but this is now thought unlikely.

 

 

Full list of candidates: 

 

The Flying Brick - The Official Monster Raving Loony Party  

Tamsin Dunwoody - Labour  

Gemma Garrett - Independent  

Mike Nattrass - UKIndependence Party  

David Roberts - English Democrats  

Elizabeth Shenton - Liberal Democrats  

Robert Smith - Green Party  

Paul Thorogood - Cut Tax on Petrol and Diesel  

Edward Timpson - Conservatives  

Mark Walklate - Independent