Labour Disaster

12.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 27th Jun 2008

Graham Oakes, Lib Dem PPC for Exeter described the result of the Henley & Thame by-election as "encouraging".

"With the Conservatives at the peak of their popularity and in a traditionally safe Tory seat you would expected them to hold the seat and to decimate the Labour & Lib Dem challenges, however we have increased our share of the vote."

"It was a disaster for Labour as they suffered yet another defeat, this time being reduced to 5th place behind the Green s and the BNP."

Only the Lib Dem & Tory candidates retained their deposits.

"Labour are in such disarray that they only just outpolled the Official Monster Raving Loony Party!"

"I am encouraged by this result as despite massive Tory and Labour campaigns we still increased our share of the vote. The Lib Dems are in a stronger position in Exeter than we were in Henley and a by-election here at present would be a close call between ourselves and the Tories."

"Ben Bradshaw must be getting nervous."