Oldham by-election: 'Nobody anticipated a victory on this scale'

[LeftishBrit]

This was a surprise result for Labour, but an unexpectedly good one.

Not only was it almost 11,000 votes ahead of UKIP, the party also increased its vote share.

Only a fortnight ago some were predicting a shock defeat...

UKIP's result was far worse than Heywood and Middleton and much more disappointing than it expected....



http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-politics-35003373


Good news for once!

ETA: Not only did Labour increase its vote share from the general election; it got a higher vote share than in Labour's overall great year of 1997, when Meacher got 59% of the vote (just checked Wikipedia entry for the constituency). Of course, not strictly comparable, as turnout is far lower in by-elections than general elections; but at any rate, the by-election does not support any fears of a Labour decline in its heartland.

[LeftishBrit]

1. The full result

The full result (from BBC) (updated):




◾Jim McMahon (Labour) - 17,209 (62.11%)
◾John Bickley (UKIP) - 6,487 (23.41%)
◾James Daly (Conservative) - 2,596 (9.37%)
◾Jane Brophy (Liberal Democrat) - 1,024 (3.70%)
◾Simeon Hart (Green Party) - 249 (0.90%)
◾Sir Oink A-Lot (Monster Raving Loony) - 141 (0.51%)

[Ken Burch]

2. I assume the pundits are falling all over themselves to deny Corbyn any credit for this result.

A marked difference from the dismal byelection results during most of the Foot and Kinnock years(the era that supposedly proved that Labour couldn't win unless it became as indistinguishable from the Tories as possible).

[non sociopath skin]

3. You got that right, Ken.

http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/dec/04/oldham-west-byelection-victory-jeremy-corbyn-jim-mcmahon-result

The Skin

[Denzil_DC]

4. Reverse ferrets all round.

Farage's social media meltdown has also been a sight to behold.

The most inventive spin I've seen so far was one UKIPer who reckoned it was down to tactical voting by Tories who want to see Corbyn stay in office.

[Denzil_DC]

5. It's never too early to start the Telegraph's 2020 election campaign:

This is what happens when you have to scrap your pre-penned "Wipeout at Oldham Spells DOOM for Corbyn!!!1!" article and fill space in a hurry at 2 a.m.