Nick Clegg hails Liberal Democrat win in Eastleigh

Mike Thornton with party leader Nick Clegg at the Ageas Bowl during the by-election campaign Mike Thornton with party leader Nick Clegg at the Ageas Bowl during the by-election campaign

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has hailed his party's success in the Eastleigh by-election, telling activists in the Hampshire town: "We held our nerve, we stood our ground... we overcame the odds and we won a stunning victory."

The Lib Dems held off a late surge by the UK Independence Party (Ukip) to win the by-election in the early hours of this morning, but Prime Minister David Cameron was dealt a serious blow as the Conservatives were pushed into third place.

Mr Cameron acknowledged that the result was "disappointing" for his party but insisted he was "confident" that in the 2015 general election the Tories would be able to win back the protest voters who deserted them last night.

Speaking in 10 Downing Street, the Prime Minister said: "It is a disappointing result for the Conservative Party, but it is clear that, in mid-term by-elections, people want to register a protest.

"But I am confident that at the general election we can win those people back by demonstrating that we are delivering for everyone who wants to work hard and wants to get on. That is what we will be focused on."

Visiting Eastleigh to congratulate his party's new MP, Mike Thornton, Mr Clegg said the message for Lib Dems from the poll was that "we can be in government and still win".

Mr Thornton won the by-election - triggered by the resignation of disgraced ex-Cabinet minister Chris Huhne - with 13,342 votes, a majority of 1,771 over Ukip's Diane James, who said beating the Tories was a "humongous" shock which represented a "seismic shift" in UK politics.

Jubilant Lib Dem president Tim Farron said the result meant that 20-30 Tory seats were now vulnerable to the party in the 2015 general election.

But Conservative Education Secretary Michael Gove insisted that the party would not be blown off course by its defeat and would resist backbench calls for a shift to the right on issues like immigration and gay marriage.

"What we need to demonstrate is that the course that we have set is producing results," Mr Gove told the BBC Radio 4 Today programme.

"If people think you are changing policy in order to take account of a by-election or to play party politics, that is when the problems arise and people think 'Do you know what? We smell inauthenticity here'."

Comments(13)

OSPREYSAINT says...
12:17pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Now start pushing your own Policies and stop Kowtowing to the Tory bullies, heed the message that the Electorate gave you, they trust you, now repay their trust by doing the job they elected you for.

havinalaugh says...
5:18pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Congratulations are in order for Nick Gleggs candidate? Mike Thornton? Who managed to hang on to the Stronghold seat at Eastleigh? By a single thread? U.K.I.P. 2nd in a two Horse race? Tories fell at the last ? Labour? among the also rans' Eastleigh almost made History ? Missed a Golden chance to Stop our countries slide into the pit of dispair/? A Wake up call to Cameron & co' is long over due? Mass Immigration ? is the Major issue, and concern? Facing our Country ?I believe the writing is on the wall. For Clegg, Cameron & Milliband Who are well on course for the Tidy Bin? Head's buried in the sand? oblivious to the many problems they are forcing on our citizens? by their Gross Stupidity?Ruled by Europe ?Subjected to all their rules and regulations. Which will surely bring about the destruction of our once Great Country. Common sence is obviously lacking ? Thousands' of Rummainian and Bulgarians? Many who do not speak English .Due to arrive in 2014? The anniversary of the First World War. Millions'of service men & women .sacrificed their Lives for Freedom and Democracy? Now given away so readily by the past and present Goverments ? Promises of a referendum ? ,ignored? Cameron .afraid of the U. K.I.P. threat ? promises' once again? If elected in 2015 he might keep His word??? ha' ha' ha'/? Thank god for U.K.I.P. Nigel Farage will make History,in 2015,The Greatest Prime Minister ever..Sorry' nick? Eastleigh is only on loan? The three Sorry parties' will be confined to the Tidy Bin./?

cantthinkofone says...
5:56pm Fri 1 Mar 13

Out of curiosity, Does anyone NOT want to stand on Nick Clegg's nadgers?

derek james says...
10:00pm Fri 1 Mar 13

shame this election wasn't in a year's time when eastleigh and other towns will be besieged by roma gypsies and the like, just hope eastleigh gets it's fair share

cantthinkofone says...
1:25am Sat 2 Mar 13

Yeah. Can't wait til there are loads of roma gypsies we can blame for everything, like they do on mainland Europe. That'll be ace.

sam1970 says...
2:26pm Sat 2 Mar 13

Well done Eastleigh for giving UKIP so much support. Lib/Lab/Con equals Government by Brussels, and uncontrolled immigration. UKIP equals an EU exit, and control over our borders.

Jack Herer says...
7:41am Sun 3 Mar 13

havinalaugh wrote:
Congratulations are in order for Nick Gleggs candidate? Mike Thornton? Who managed to hang on to the Stronghold seat at Eastleigh? By a single thread? U.K.I.P. 2nd in a two Horse race? Tories fell at the last ? Labour? among the also rans' Eastleigh almost made History ? Missed a Golden chance to Stop our countries slide into the pit of dispair/? A Wake up call to Cameron & co' is long over due? Mass Immigration ? is the Major issue, and concern? Facing our Country ?I believe the writing is on the wall. For Clegg, Cameron & Milliband Who are well on course for the Tidy Bin? Head's buried in the sand? oblivious to the many problems they are forcing on our citizens? by their Gross Stupidity?Ruled by Europe ?Subjected to all their rules and regulations. Which will surely bring about the destruction of our once Great Country. Common sence is obviously lacking ? Thousands' of Rummainian and Bulgarians? Many who do not speak English .Due to arrive in 2014? The anniversary of the First World War. Millions'of service men & women .sacrificed their Lives for Freedom and Democracy? Now given away so readily by the past and present Goverments ? Promises of a referendum ? ,ignored? Cameron .afraid of the U. K.I.P. threat ? promises' once again? If elected in 2015 he might keep His word??? ha' ha' ha'/? Thank god for U.K.I.P. Nigel Farage will make History,in 2015,The Greatest Prime Minister ever..Sorry' nick? Eastleigh is only on loan? The three Sorry parties' will be confined to the Tidy Bin./?
Lol - you've got to laugh at this rant.

Look, UKIP lost. I'll make a prediction for them too:

Losing in Eastleigh will be the high point for UKIP forever - they'll never get a better result.

You are bang on to say that our forefathers fought and died for democracy and freedom. They were fighting the facists after all.

What makes you therefore think they were fighting to cause huge division between the Britsih themselves? Never in a million years were they ever fighting for that.

Face facts - you are a racist party. Not overtly, but that's nevertheless what you are. Your scare stories about immigrants - spreading your hatred and division - are identical to that of the EDL.

UKIP are the BNP in a pin striped suit.

I'm not saying that to have a go at anyone who voted for them, I'm merely pointing out the facts. Facts that would become patently obvious within the wider confines of a general election.

So, enjoy your loss in Eastleigh, it's the best it's going to get for you unfortunately.

colorado kid says...
10:40am Sun 3 Mar 13

I assume that you voted for the Bearded Sandal Brigade,run by Calmity Clegg and fools drunk with power,I did not vote for UKIP but contrary to what you have said I think that you should make the most of your scraped victory because come the General Election it will be the Lib Dems that will be obliterated because of their irresponsible immigration policies,extra taxes for everyone on futile green projects and generally their poor morality as a party full of expense cheats and criminals.

Jack Herer says...
3:47pm Sun 3 Mar 13

colorado kid wrote:
I assume that you voted for the Bearded Sandal Brigade,run by Calmity Clegg and fools drunk with power,I did not vote for UKIP but contrary to what you have said I think that you should make the most of your scraped victory because come the General Election it will be the Lib Dems that will be obliterated because of their irresponsible immigration policies,extra taxes for everyone on futile green projects and generally their poor morality as a party full of expense cheats and criminals.
Lol - was it anyone but the Lib Dems for you perchance? Your comments during the campaign, and your bitter tone now, certainly suggest so. I'm guessing your house wasn't a happy place last Friday. Was there any tears?

What makes you think the Lib Dems will be obliterated in the general election incidentally, when they triumphed in a by-election when everything was against them? Your opinion smacks severely of delusion given what's gone on.

Jack Herer says...
4:34pm Sun 3 Mar 13

If you are a despondent Tory btw, I wouldn't lose heart. They lost the most from this protest vote, whatever these complicated surveys and analyses suggest. It will be a different ball game come the full election however. I'm guessing it will be Labour who will lose seats to the Tories come then, by virtue of the fact that Labour still hasn't got a clue on national policy.

The Lib Dems and Tories might disagree on some issues, but they are pretty much shoulder to shoulder on the one that strangely affects us most; cutting the deficit.

I don't think the Tories need worry about taking Lib Dem seats because they'll have Labour ones in droves.

cantthinkofone says...
7:51pm Sun 3 Mar 13

Jack Herer wrote:
If you are a despondent Tory btw, I wouldn't lose heart. They lost the most from this protest vote, whatever these complicated surveys and analyses suggest. It will be a different ball game come the full election however. I'm guessing it will be Labour who will lose seats to the Tories come then, by virtue of the fact that Labour still hasn't got a clue on national policy.

The Lib Dems and Tories might disagree on some issues, but they are pretty much shoulder to shoulder on the one that strangely affects us most; cutting the deficit.

I don't think the Tories need worry about taking Lib Dem seats because they'll have Labour ones in droves.
I take issue with your first sentence.

Tories don't *have* hearts.

Ps - "UKIP are the BNP in a pinstriped suit" is wonderful. Sums them up perfectly.

kingnotail says...
12:58am Wed 6 Mar 13

havinalaugh wrote:
Congratulations are in order for Nick Gleggs candidate? Mike Thornton? Who managed to hang on to the Stronghold seat at Eastleigh? By a single thread? U.K.I.P. 2nd in a two Horse race? Tories fell at the last ? Labour? among the also rans' Eastleigh almost made History ? Missed a Golden chance to Stop our countries slide into the pit of dispair/? A Wake up call to Cameron & co' is long over due? Mass Immigration ? is the Major issue, and concern? Facing our Country ?I believe the writing is on the wall. For Clegg, Cameron & Milliband Who are well on course for the Tidy Bin? Head's buried in the sand? oblivious to the many problems they are forcing on our citizens? by their Gross Stupidity?Ruled by Europe ?Subjected to all their rules and regulations. Which will surely bring about the destruction of our once Great Country. Common sence is obviously lacking ? Thousands' of Rummainian and Bulgarians? Many who do not speak English .Due to arrive in 2014? The anniversary of the First World War. Millions'of service men & women .sacrificed their Lives for Freedom and Democracy? Now given away so readily by the past and present Goverments ? Promises of a referendum ? ,ignored? Cameron .afraid of the U. K.I.P. threat ? promises' once again? If elected in 2015 he might keep His word??? ha' ha' ha'/? Thank god for U.K.I.P. Nigel Farage will make History,in 2015,The Greatest Prime Minister ever..Sorry' nick? Eastleigh is only on loan? The three Sorry parties' will be confined to the Tidy Bin./?
'Many who do not speak english'? Well, who are you to hold that against anyone when you can barely write it yourself? I expect your spoken english is little better either. Also, are you for some reason a big fan of question marks?

This is UKIP's 15 minutes of fame, enjoy it while it lasts.

one in a million says...
3:58pm Mon 11 Mar 13

Isn't funny how quiet the local lib dems are now after bombarding us with mail for weeks, now the election is over...silence...eve
n the Mike Thornton website hasn't been updated......

click2find

About cookies

We want you to enjoy your visit to our website. That's why we use cookies to enhance your experience. By staying on our website you agree to our use of cookies. Find out more about the cookies we use.

I agree