Advertisement
Here we go again
Reporter: Karen Doherty
Date online: 13 January 2011
All eyes on Oldham as voting begins again
OLDHAM’S historic by-election got off to a damp start this morning as the media scrum descended on the borough.
Hundreds of TV and radio crews, journalists and political pundits are gearing up for the first big test of the coalition Government.
More than 124 media from 42 organisations have asked for passes for tonight’s count at the Queen Elizabeth Hall — and the council has even had an inquiry about the election from the Koyodo News in Tokyo.
Last-minute canvassing started as early at 5.15am when leaflets were delivered to homes.
But voting was slow when the 58 polling stations opened across Oldham East and Saddleworth in drizzle at 7am. In May’s General Election early morning voters queued to get to the ballot box at Glodwick Infant and Nursery School.
This morning it was deserted and occasional rain and showers are predicted for throughout the day.
The spotlight has been thrown on Oldham since former Immigration Minister Phil Woolas was stripped of the seat he won by just 103 votes from Liberal Democrat Elwyn Watkins.
He was found guilty of lying about his main rival in leaflets by an election court at Saddleworth Civic Hall — the first in 99 years.
Parties and candidates have been fighting for every one of the 72,788 votes since the by-election was called last month.
A succession of political heavyweights have descended with Labour Leader Ed Miliband and his Lib-Dem counterpart Nick Clegg each visiting three times.
David Cameron broke with the convention that Prime Ministers do not unusually campaign in by-elections.
Labour remain the bookies’ favourites to keep the seat after polls close at 10pm but the figures will be scrutinised in the coming days.
A win for Labour will not only be bad for the Lib-Dems, who narrowly lost in May after two re-counts, but how many votes Conservative candidate Kashif Ali polls will be crucial.
Candidate list
Debbie Abrahams (Labour)
Derek Adams (British National Party)
Kashif Ali (Conservative)
Peter Allen (Green Party)
David Bishop (Bus-Pass Elvis Party)
The Flying Brick (Monster Raving Loony Party)
Loz Kaye (Pirate Party of the United Kingdom)
Stephen Morris (English Democrats)
Paul Nuttall MEP (UKIP)
Elwyn Watkins (Liberal Democrats)
Comments
Well, the message "Everyone else is really bad so vote for us on that basis" seems to have won it for Labour again. Can't they just once say what their intentions are instead of the negative campaigning?
Well, it seems that Labour, as I write, are likely winners with a possible 3,000/4,000 majority but results not officially out until around 1.30/2.00am. A kick in the teeth to the Con-Dem(n) Party. Serves Watkins right though - because not only Woolas tells 'untruths' in leaflets. Now Mr Watkins get a proper job elsewhere.
What an utterly appalling victory speech by Debbie Abrahams.
A speech written by the Labour PR machine talking of nothing other than national politics. Absolutely nothing about the people of Oldham, the issues in oldham that she will fight about.
What a complete disgrace from Labour who clearly have no policies apart from attacking their opponents.
Labour has done nothing for Oldham at a local level either.
The people of Oldham deserve everything they get.
Magnanimous in defeat then ProDriver!
Why would Debbie wish to talk about national politics, it was of course only a NATIONAL by-election, and what she had to say affects all in Oldham, and I'm sure those same people are grateful for the warm and sincere sentiments contained in your final paragraph.
Well, thank goodness that's all over! Perhaps my letterbox can now be left alone for a few years. Even at 8.45pm last night (Thurs) the LibsDems were knocking asking if I had voted. Let the shambles commence, Abrahams won't plant any seeds for Oldham, she will be left in the corridors of power now, like Woolas before her!
@Oldboy Debbie Abrahams won, good luck to her. The rant she went on was not about Oldham and what she was going to do for the town. This was not a NATIONAL by election at all, it was an election in Oldham. It has been a Labour seat for 13 years so to retain it was not a surprise at all.
I would rather that this woman who, let's not forget was rejected in Colne Valley, was actually going to talk about Oldham and the people who voted for her. Sadly no, a Party PR pievce that soured her win.
Have Your Say
Does this mean they'll stop clogging the letterbos with more and moere leaflets ?? Even at 10pm last night,6am this morning and lunchtime yet again.
By morgana60 @ 13/01/2011 17:05:53