Hitchcock

The man, the films, those blondes. Free DVD collection starting this Sunday

Navigation - link to other main sections from here

From Times Online

June 27, 2008

Labour finish behind BNP in election humiliation

You need Flash Player 8 or higher to view video content with the ROO Flash Player. Click here to download and install it.

Philip Webster and Sam Coates

Labour came a humiliating fifth place behind the BNP and the Greens last night in the Henley by-election caused by Boris Johnson’s election as London Mayor.

Gordon Brown’s first anniversary as Labour leader began with the party securing only 1,066 votes, losing its £500 deposit, and having its working majority in the House of Commons cut to 65, as John Howell, the Conservative candidate, succeeded Mr Johnson in the Oxfordshire seat.

The Liberal Democrats consolidated their position in second place through their candidate, Stephen Kearney, with the Greens’ Mark Stevenson in third and Timothy Rait, of the BNP, in fourth. Richard McKenzie, the Labour candidate, was fifth with only 3.07 per cent of the vote.

On a 50.5 per cent turnout, the Tories secured 19,796 votes, the Liberal Democrats 9,680, the Greens 1,321, and the BNP 1,243. The lower turnout than the 67.9 per cent in 2005 meant that the Conservatives majority was 10,116.

Mr Howell said that his victory was “a message to Gordon Brown to get off our backs, stop the endless tax rises and help us cope with the rising cost of living”.

Although Labour have been downplaying expectations over the byelection since it was announced, claiming that they would lose their deposit with less than 5 per cent of the vote, Labour MPs still worry that the bad result will further damage morale.

The Conservatives threw substantial resources into the campaign with many MPs visiting Henley several times. They repeated the by-election tactics developed in Crewe & Nantwich, with significant backing from key figures in the key seats operation led by Lord Ashcroft.

The Liberal Democrats also put considerable effort into building up their vote under the guidance of Lord Rennard, their election guru. They hired large headquarters and organised repeated visits with Nick Clegg, the party leader. The seat is home turf for Mr Clegg, as he spent his teenage years in the Oxfordshire village of Chinnor.

Labour MPs will hope that policy announcements will distract from the bad news, continuing next week with the review of healthcare provision by Lord Darzi, the health minister.

There was a small glimmer of hope for the party last night in a YouGov poll, which indicated that the number who would vote Labour in a general election had risen five points from last month to 28 per cent. The Tories had slipped back one point to 46 per cent. However, the poll also recorded that 76 per cent were dissatisfied with Mr Brown as Prime Minister, with 49 per cent saying that he was doing a worse job than Tony Blair.

The Prime Minister suffered a further blow yesterday when it emerged that Beth Russell, one of his most trusted aides, would return to the Treasury late next month. The trade magazine PR Week reported that Jeremy Heywood, the Permanent Secretary at No 10, was trawling government departments to find a replacement for Ms Russell, who has been a member of “team Brown” for nearly a decade. This comes after the departure of Spencer Livermore as Strategy Director and Fiona Gordon, who is stepping down as political secretary.

Although the mood of Labour backbenchers continues to be poor, there is no appetite for a coup to overthrow the Prime Minister in the near future.

David Miliband, one possible successor, refused to confirm or deny his ambitions. Asked in an interview whether he wanted to be leaderin the future, he said: “I am not going there. I am utterly determined to be a very good Foreign Secretary in a Gordon Brown Government. All other speculation is literally idle.” Mr Miliband joked about Mr Brown’s woes. “I am in the slightly odd position of predicting it would be like this,” he said, referring to his appearance a year ago on Question Time, when he said that people would soon be calling for Tony Blair to come back.

Now the focus will turn to the Haltemprice and Howden by-election, where David Davis, the former Shadow Home Secretary, will be re-elected on a civil liberties platform.

Results

C hold

John Howell (C) 19,796 (57%, +3.5%)

Stephen Kearney (LD) 9,680 (28%, +1.8%)

Mark Stevenson (Green) 1,321 (3.8%, +0.5%)

Timothy Rait (BNP) 1,243 (3.6%)

Richard McKenzie (Lab) 1,066 (3.1%, -11.7%)

Chris Adams (UKIP) 843 (2.4%, -0.1%)

Bananaman Owen (Loony) 242 (0.70%)

Derek Allpass (Eng Dem) 157 (0.45%)

C maj 10,116 (29.1%)

0.81% swing LD to C

Turnout 34,761 (50.3%, -17.6%)

(2005 C maj 12,793)

Labour aren't the party they were ten years ago. Ten years ago Labour were a modern forward looking socially liberal and social democratic party.

Now Labour is all authoritarian and oppressive. The last straw for me was the cannabis back to class B move. I'll vote Lib Dem now.

David, Aberdeen,

Nev, London........... "The fact that Labour finished 5th behind the BNP says more about the type of voter in Henley than the demise of the labour party."
Indeed it does.....prefer BNP over Labour.

Phil, Preston,

i dont know what the fuss is about. bnp had 3.6% of the vote, the greens had 3.8%, hardly earth shattering. bnp will always have this level of vote as unfortunately there are bigots everywhere.

h.r, birmingham, uk

It should have been noted that the Lib Dems got over 3000 votes less in this By-Election than the General Election in 2005. A terrible result for the Lib Dems too.

Alex, Buenos Aires,

How has the Governments working Majority been cut to 65 as a result of this by election if it was already a Tory seat in the first place?

Jason, Birmingham,

Wow what a shock! The Tories win in a 100% safe Tory seat. Whatever next; a Tory MP not reported for fiddling or maybe even David Davis, that great 'libertarian', wins a one horse race.

A Thomas, Lanchester,

Those of you who attack the BNP, just go to its website and examine for yourselves. Don't be led by the nose by the media and other 'liberal' types - they want to manipulate you. Make up your OWN minds on due evidence. And get used to the fact that people from all walks of life now support it avidly

Anna, Reading, U.K

the labour party will finish behind the bnp more and more as labour goes into meltdown,we could be seeing the start of something never seen in british politics,a credible right wing party with a chance of power in the near future.

helen, Norwich,

Not suprised Labour lost their deposit as they have renaged on two manifesto promises: Smoking and Non-Smokung pubs plus the Vote on the EU. So for the Pub Landlords and pro-smoking pub goers and EU sceptics its like manna from Heaven to see Labour take a knockout blow right on the chin!

Peter Davies, Stockport, England

"Since the BNP have now caved in support of Zionism. I wonder if they'll allow a functioning pro-Israel lobby in UK?"

The BNP has views on the Israeli / Palestinian conflict, we have not picked a side.

We critisize the IDF and the tactics and the idiology behind Hamas.

We do NOT support Zionism

Chris Barnett, Eastbourne, United Kingdom

Who is afraid of the BNP ? Big business that is who, they brought West Indians in on the Windrush to fill jobs and undermine the British working classes, they brought Asians in to work in the cotton mills and now they let the Eastern Europeans undercut our labour force. UK PLC its that simple.

Deb, Surbiton, UK

BNP on the rise,good,maybe it is time that the world enjoys an emergence of British culture and traditions that were lost for so many years.
The world is far less enjoyable and rich without them.

Maged, Cairo, Egypt

If any Labour MPs don't want to lose their jobs after the next general election, they should now defect to the Tory Party. They're pretty much the same, so it won't really make much difference to the electorate.

E J Murray, Kerry, Ireland

The BNP hasn't "caved in to Zionism". The BNP supports Israel's right to exist and approves of the Israeli government's tough, no nonsense stance on terror but it wouldn't involve Britain in the conflict. A BNP government wouldn't give Israel any military assistance.

B Scarfe, Brentwood, United Kingdom

Jon from Northumberland. the point is that every one in uk is mixed in terms of racial composition. jon probably is too. so wheres the purity of the white race? or of birmingham 60 years ago.

harj, birmingham, uk

Phil
Henley on Thames aint in Surrey; it's in Oxfordshire.

Given that Labour had no chance of winning it does not surprise me that people used their votes for minority parties; there was no tactical vote here.
Its about time the undemocratic system of deposits was abandonned.

jane, henley, oxfordshire

I too, have concerns about immigration, and the apparent strain on local authority housing/schooling/health/ social cohesion, etc...but I could not bring myself to vote bnp. They are a one issue organisation who, above all, are morons. Call me old fashioned, but I simply cannot vote for morons.

steve, watford, UK,

to chris ashley. how can you end the romanian, latvian, polish, etc immigration. they have as much right to be here as you do.

harj, birmingham, uk

They should have invested in an ISA , it would have brought a lot more !!!

swisschris, New Malden, UK

New Labour is a shambles and has given us uncontrolled immigration, two unnecessary wars, political correctness, personal debt and further (unwanted) integration into the EU.
The BNP understand people and listen to them, they would deliver common sense effective solutions to our problems.

John, London, UK

I'm middle class and I'm voting BNP, as after serious look for a party that supported my views for an end to immigration, and to one that puts the indigenous population first, the BNP cam out on top.

Chris Ashley, Ely, England

I am white, middle class, middle aged and male. I am the target of every tax, sex & race discrimination policy this government can think of. Another 10 years and I'll be on 'the too old to save list' of the NHS. Tell me what party represnts me, who should I vote for to ease my burden?

H Adenough, Malice, England/UK/Europe where??

Not surprised that the BNP have taken more votes than Labour. Labour could not care less about the homegrown population and think that promoting all things ethnic and minority will win them votes ...... clearly this strategy is not working !!!

B Wilson, Edinburgh,

Yes - candidates have to pay a £500 deposit to enter the election, and if they fail to secure a certain percentage of the votes, 5% I think but am not entirely sure, then they lose their deposit.

Jen Wright, London,

"Now the focus will turn to the Haltemprice and Howden by-election, where David Davis, the former Shadow Home Secretary, will be re-elected on a civil liberties platform"

David Davis will be re-elected?...does The Times know something we don't?

David Nately, Bangkok, Thailand

The party is over, Labour have given the populace nothing is wanted and taken away from it everything it had. Freedom is on the way out and choice has been relegated to the Pub Car Park. Economic decline, immigration control and anger and resentment are all that lie in wait for the British.

Jim, Oulu, Finland

Say what you will about the BNP, at least it believes in Britain. Whereas Nu Labour has done its utmost to dismember our nation.

Tom Welsh, Basingstoke,

Do people really think that Cameron is going to be any different. When will people realise we have been down this road before. Only a major shift from the major three parties will bring any change to this country. Thank you to the 3.6% of Henley-on-Thames, when are the rest going to wake up.

Richard, Bude, UK

@NB, Birmingham

Believe it or not, you actually have the same rights as anyone here in the UK. Additionally, you have the roots and upbringing - some might say the privilege - to make something of yourself.

Howard, Manchester,

Are you listening Mr Brown? Are you listening Labour MPs?The message is the same one that the electorate have been trying to get into your thick heads for some time now. Is it a case of thick, or just thick-skinned?

Neil, Gloucestershire, England

"They represent the pure white, hetrosexual population of uk & there are very few of those about."
Harj Birmingham

Doesn't that prove the BNP's point about parts of the country changing dramatically due to immigration. Only 60 years ago Birmingham was about 99% white British.

Jon, Northumberland, UK

To Ken in Bedford,
How is a threshold a handout to the rich, it's a tax so it is taking their money, not having a threshold is a handout to the government where they will waste it no doubt.

Stuart, Los Angeles, USA

Brown is not just an embarrassment for the Labour party but of the whole country. The sooner he goes the better we will be.

d, london, uk

Its when the middle classes start voting for the BNP that Labour and the Cons need to start worrying.
BNP need to seduce celebrities, academics and any other prominant people to break this image of them being the political version of Combat 18

Phill, The Wirral, England

If I wanted to vote for Labour – thus ‘supporting the union of Great Britain and Northern Ireland’ – I was told to vote for their sister party – the SDLP, party pledged to destroy the union in favour a Republic of Ireland that includes the entire island – a very Anglo-Irish oxymoron!

ZoonPol, Lisburn, Northern Ireland

No surprise in a safe Tory seat where they will all benefit from the
£1M inheritance tax threshhold and other typical conservative handouts to the rich when they come to power.

Ken, Bedford, UK

BNP is one loony party amongt a number of loony parties standing in this bye election. They will only represent the pure whites& hetrosexuals in this country and there are very few of those left. They have nothing meaning ful to say in a world which is becoming very interdependent on each other.

harj, birmingham, uk

I understand frustrations of why the English lent their vote to the BNP – and one hopes they did lend only. Blairs' chickens are coming home to roast for the Labour Party as truth lost out to PR for the last decade and no one was willing to check his Presidential style of window dressing.

ZoonPol, Lisburn, Northern Ireland

The BNP is NOT the only party to have a stance on immigration ! UKIP has much better and well-thought out policy which the British public of ALL races wouid probably prefer if only the media let UKIP publicise it more ! UKIP is not as racist a party as the BNP . UKIP is the real voice of Britain !

DAVID ALEAXNDER PATTERSON, KEADBY, ENGLAND

Three weeks ago, in these columns, I predicted that Labour would fail to save its deposit, leaving Gordon dead in the water. I can now confirm that I am experiencing a nice warm gloat. But this is just the latest step on the way down - see next year's inflation, unemployment and stagnation etc.

Alan Gooch, Honiton,

People obviously rate the BNP less biggoted than H Harman & co (Labour) after her announcement in the commons that men are to be discriminated against in not only family law, but also employment law. Not a newspaper report - ON THE FLOOR OF THE HOUSE OF COMMONS. Will any man vote labour again?

Simon, York, England

New Labour need to focus on the fact they are despised.
I hope they lose the General Election.
They have sold this Country down the river with their Politically Correct policies putting foreigners first and also introducing the Human Rights Legislation.
That has been a gift for criminals to abuse

Stephen Holmes, Withington, UK

Nice to see that the Conservative party has more votes than all the other parties combined. NuLabour is almost dead and the British people are preparing to free themselves from the shackles and chains of Gordons interfering boom and bust policies. Hoorah!

Craig Pollard, Hamble, UK

Labour score one own goal after another. A SENSIBLE policy on immigration would remove a large percentage of the BNP vote. Labour have used immigration to provide cheap labour, and claim high employment levels, to an economy that has no underlying strength - but which relies on a growth in debt.

Mike Wilson, Winchester,

it was to be expected. First Blair and now Brown can only lead the people by the nose for so long. Politicians need to wake up, remember that they are elected to serve the people and not themselves. Get rid of Labour, reduce the number of MP's by 50 to 60%, then make them earn and justify their perk

Trevor Dee, Torbay, UK

No wonder Bottler Brown is too terrified to field a candidate against David Davis.

Sean, Surrey, UK

Please be aware of the rise of the BNP, immigrants are not to blame for our economic problems. I've lived in Italy for ten years now, but recently the rise of the far right is increasing evermore. They have now taken to finger printing all gypsy children the same thing could happen in the uk soon.

kat, rome, italy

It's no secret that Gordon Brown hates England and English people.

It should thus come as no surprise that in Surrey, of all places, he and his misfit mob have been given a kicking.

Losing to the Conservatives in a solidly 'blue' seat should come as no surprise, but being beaten by the BNP...

Phil, London,

At last the country is waking up to what the labour Party means - more and more taxes but no rights to be heard by the mindless at No10.

When will this country start to remember the mud slinging by the Labour Party with regard to sleeze, Party Funds, payments for seats in the House of Lords etc

A Gordon, Bristol,

Does anyone remeber the hilarious Spitting Image sketch of John Major singing "Like a prat out of hell, I'll be gone when the election comes?" Maybe the new Spitting Image could do a remix of that with Gordon Brown on vocals?

Luke, London, UK

Paul in Oz - making voting in elections compulsory is hardly democratic is it?!! Rather defeats the point!

Andrew, Cambridge,

Shows what a complete failure New Labour's benefit dependent controlling culture is.

Paul Wilson, Brighton,

Gordan Brown. Unelected by his party. Unelected by the country. Rejected in by-elections . Just do the honorable thing and go. Paul why would anyone want to vote in our electoral system where the party with the least votes wins and democracy is completed disregarded by an unelected leader?

david barker, eastbourne,

Listen to that, Gordon.

R Bingham, Lauzun, France

The problem with the BNP and the Green party is that they are both only really known for one particular policy. Even though the policies of both these parties have a potentially very large following in a more acceptable form, neither party will ever make inroads without a complete and viable package

Pedro Tam, London, UK

Knock knock Mr Brown, this is the wind of change ... I just wanted to let you know ... I'm coming!

Paul Tinker, Henley-on-Thames, UK

"Labour MPs will hope that policy announcements will distract from the bad news"

Given that Gordon's 'policy' announcements are a likely source of Labour's troubles, I doubt it. Darzi's healthcare review is almost certain to include a whole lot of hopeless nanny-statery.

William, Ilkley,

Labour are to blame for the rise of the BNP. Its difficult to blame the electorate for sympathising with a party who listens to the views and concerns of the majority. Labour are far too ignorant and arrogant and they have come royally unstuck. Conservatives take note!

Stuart, London,

Labour wouldnt be in this mess if they had not allowed the minority tail to wag the majority dog. Their policies and PC attitude are not representative of the wishes of the indigenous majority in the UK! The electoral commision may aswell omit them from the voting sheet at the next general election.

Jay, London,

I think you'll find that only people from the poorer, less educated/successful minorities will vote labour and they'll make up the bulk of the votes Labour did get. Not that there is a large minority presence in that part of the world.

John, London,

Since the BNP have now caved in support of Zionism. I wonder if they'll allow a functioning pro-Israel lobby in UK?

France has already been infected.

jayil, london, uk

All politicians should be worried about the BNP beating Labour. Why did this happen? Could it be that 80% of jobs created over the last 10 years (statistics commission) went to non UK nationals??
I've applied for jobs paying about the min wage and not even had replies, I'll vote BNP as a protest.

Graham, St. Albans, uk

I agree with Harj to "get on", but it's galling for the indigenous population to see their rights and liberties continually eroded in favour of the immigrant and ancestral immigrant population. Integration which aided the erosion has changed to multi-culturalism, to the detriment of the home culture

NB, Birmingham,

Henley should feel humiliated. They now know that they have a strong bent towards Nationalism/Fascism. Nice one, you have a lot of jingoistic racists in your already right-wing town.

Gerry Beckett, Liverpool, UK

Yes Becky of Sheffield, you have to pay £500 to stand for election.

But if you get 5% of the vote you get the money back.

James W, London, UK

What wories me the most is that Labour will continue to defy the electorate and struggle on for the next 2(?) years doing their utmost to destroy the UK. Brown was not elected and it is now - due to unelected Courts deciding - possible to tell "untruths" in your election manifesto (eg referendum).

Seilbahn, DONCASTER, South Scotland

... would just like to know whats the reason voting in elections in the UK are not compulsary (sic)?"

It's called freedom.

FREEDOM is worth fighting for. Therefore EVERYONE should vote - avoids allegations of elected by "fewer than 25%" I agree entirely with the Aussie system.

Seilbahn, DONCASTER, South Scotland

Great anniversary present for Brown finishing behind Green and BNP

James Every, Welwyn, England

Bye bye ZANU Labour!

David Cohen, Stamford Hill, UK

I would be worried if people in Henley started to vote for me.

Kevin Straw, Leicester,

I hope more people vote BNP in the future - the goverment's ridiculous left wing policies are killing Britain.
Well done Tim - keep fighting the good cause!
Don't listen to the lefties with all their anti-BNP / 'racism' same old blinkered rubbish. Look how they are destroying Britain.

Scott, halifax, uk

I just wanted to wish Gordon a happy anniversary . Hope you enjoyed it as much as I did . On the plus side .... at least you got over four times as many votes as Bananaman . Every cloud ...

Benzo, Nr Chelmsford,

A 50.5% turnout. So even the winner polled about a quarter of the available votes. Repeat this trend over the whole country, and you have a government elected without a remit from the majority of available voters. Get off your backside Britain, and use it, don't lose it!.

Ron, Milton Keynes, UK

I an just amazed that Labour got 1,066 maniacs to vote for them.
They have no mandate in many parts of the country and an unelected PM who is the worst ever.

Richard K, Nottingham,

How heartbreaking it is to see Bananaman Owen only getting 242 votes. This country's going to the dogs!

Howard, Manchester,

BNP in this bye election is no different to the other loony parties. They represent the pure white, hetrosexual population of uk & there are very few of those about. when is uk going to realise the world is coming together& not drifting apart? to survive in tdays world we have get on with others.

harj, birmingham, uk

I am truly shocked and saddened that Richard McKenzie managed to get more votes than Bananman Owen.

Sacha Varma, Marbella, Spain

What a delightful result. Huge congratulations are in order to the MPs, Councillors and party activists who made this result possible. Never be complacent is the message from the Conservative Party!

Matthew Jones, Newcastle-under-Lyme, United Kingdom

This is of course the real reason Labour won't put up an opponent to David Davis, they know they will get yet another kicking and lost another 500 quid.

Garley, London, UK

Again the media are spinning a story rather than reporting the facts. Henley is and has always been a staunch conservative seat. The fact that Labour finished 5th behind the BNP says more about the type of voter in Henley than the demise of the labour party.

Nev, london, UK

In response to Tom from London, the aritcle says Labour's 'working majority' has been cut as Boris Jonson had resigned his seat so temporarily Labour's majority was strengthened.

Charlie Smith, London,

looks like the BNP is getting its vote into the comments sections, and not just at the Mail. no less sad than muslims and the world's top intellectual. 1243 maniacs aside, does the media really think this a problem with gordon brown,not with labour for a generation?

stephen, London,

Paul Martin, Brisbane, Qld. Australia - "I would just like to know whats the reason voting in elections in the UK are not compulsary (sic)?"

It's called freedom.

Alastair, Alicante, Spain

What is the £500 deposit that everyone keeps talking about?
Do they have to pay to enter the election?

Becky, Sheffield,

With labours help the BMP is on the rise, they are one of the rew partys that has clear aims and goals these days.

The rest of them jsut fob you off with a load of words which mean nothing and then when they do promis somethign like the referendum on the EU they dont deliver.

Mr W Jones, Liverpool, England

How can the Labour majority have been cut if the Conservatives held a seat they already had?

Tom, London,

A wake up call to the major political parties ... when you fail to act in accordance with the wishes of the electorate the elctorate will find someone who will or at least says it will and the last thing the UK needs is a neo Nazi party in control. Look to the history of the 20th century.

John Jarman, St Maixent sur Vie, France

Beautiful! New Labour are done for! Glad to hear they have another 500 quid to add to their 24 million debt!

Sam Smith, Southport, UK

I wonder how many hints Gordon Brown needs before he
really does start "listening".

Can't he come out from hiding and actually do something constructive and benefitial for a change?

N. Dawkins, Swindon,

There are no surprises to this result. I would just like to know whats the reason voting in elections in the UK are not compulsary, is there a political reason behind it ?

Paul Martin, Brisbane, Qld. Australia

Humiliation is the name of the game for Nulabour for the next 2 years. You have destroyed the Country and wasted billions on pitiful little commie projects. Now, at last we, the people have a chance to speak.

Roger, Surrey.,

Surely people realize that the current state of the UK is a reaction to a government thats been in government to long, changing leaders isn't the answer As for David Miliband as a possible successor to Brown rings alarm bells as Britain could see a reincarnation of a Blair form of government.

Gary Marr, Kidderminster, UK

Can we have that national election now Gordon .... I think the country has something to tell you.

Joe, Kiev, Ukraine

No wonder we pay all these taxes and we are not allowed to have a say in EU

Charlie, Burnley, uk

A predictable win for the Tories but demonstrates the BNP now have greater support than Labour in parts of the country. This will become further apparant at the next election when what was Labour territory in the north will look to the BNP to represent the white working class Labour abandoned.

Donna Walker, Effingham, England

The Labour government, especially in the area of immigration, has taken advantage of the good nature of the indigenous population, who are fed up with a policy of immigration, immigration, immigration. Only the BNP as a party stands against immigration, so I for one will vote for them too.

Chris Ashley, Ely, England

I think that's 5th place not 4th.

Carlos Pimentel, George Town, Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands