Eastleigh By-Election: Lib Dems Triumph

The Liberal Democrats have won the Eastleigh by-election - as the UK Independence Party pushed the Conservatives into third place.

Local councillor Mike Thornton claimed 13,342 votes for the Lib Dems, with 11,571 for Ukip's Diane James and 10,559 for Conservative candidate Maria Hutchings.

Labour's John O'Farrell was fourth with 4,088 votes.

Ukip candidate Diane James reacts to the result

Mr Thornton said in his acceptance speech that the result represented a "great night" for his party nationally.

"A strong signal of support for (leader and Deputy Prime Minister) Nick Clegg, an affirmation of our role of national interest within the coalition and a huge boost to our party's mission in government to build a stronger economy in a fairer society so that everyone can get on in life," he said.

He said it showed those who had "written off" the Lib Dems had been proved wrong, adding: "We have done it and we will do it again."

Ms James hailed her second place as "a humungous political shock" that represented a "seismic shift" in British politics.

And Mrs Hutchings appeared to be fighting back tears as she thanked opponents for a "clean campaign".

A by-election was called in the Hampshire constituency following the resignation of disgraced Lib Dem MP Chris Huhne.

The Lib Dem majority was more than halved compared to that secured by Huhne in 2010  - from 3,864 to 1,771.

But the result comes after influential Tory backbencher David Davis warned the Prime Minister that third place would represent a "crisis" for the party.

Ukip leader Nigel Farage welcomed the result, saying: "On the day I think we won it but we could not catch up with the deficit in postal votes. In a short space of time we have created a massive surge."

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