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First Lady!
Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date online: 14 January 2011
Oldham’s first woman MP in Labour landslide
LABOUR’S Debbie Abrahams made history by becoming Oldham’s first ever female MP as the Tory vote collapsed.
The national spotlight fell on Oldham as the biggest by-election for years saw Mrs Abrahams romp to victory by more than 3,500 votes in a 1.47am announcement over Lib-Dem Elwyn Watkins as Labour emerged undamaged by the Phil Woolas scandal.
On a crushing night for the Conservatives their vote was down by more than 7,000 votes as they limped into third place amid claims their supporters voted tactically in favour of the Lib-Dems.
UKIP snatched fourth place on a miserable night for the BNP whose share of the vote was nearly halved.
The first poll since the coalition Government was formed was seen as both a referendum on the Tory/Lib-Dem partnership and Ed Miliband’s leadership — giving the new Labour leader a major boost.
In her victory speech, Mrs Abrahams said: “The voters have spoken for the country.”
Comments
Cutting benefits and handouts in a town like Oldham was never going to be rewarding for the Con/Lib alliance and the majority knew this.
It was to be expected, but what a shame. She was by far the weakest of the thre main candidates, and a poor public speaker. I fear that she'll go down to Westminster to become cannon fodder and we'll seldom hear from her. If the voters had any sense they would have voted for a party in power and reconsidered at the next election when we might have had a decent Labour candidate, instead of one imposed on the constituency. She's a revolting gum-chewer, too, as the pic shows!
Will Oldham become a better place to live now?
Just to unstick "The limpet", you don't have to be a "good public speaker" (if she isn't and which I doubt) to ask incisive questions in select committees or of ministers in the House or to be able to deal effectively with constituents issues.
Labour need to build on this, common sense has prevailed but the ignorant oinks that are the government wont listen. more rises in tax and more cuts lets all share the pain bla bla bla. Except George Osborne and his mate cameron with their millions......hypocrisy. Animal farm springs to mind.
I voted Labour not because I supported Debbie Abrahams, but because I don't support the cuts by the current government. Too many cuts, too deep and targetting the wrong people.
Protocol regards the thanking of the returning officer, his staff and organisers, on behalf of all candidates, first.
Not Mrs Abrahams, she went straight into a negative diatribe, with poor presentation for such an international reputation.
To her credit she made two clear statements. "I will put Oldham before Westminster" and "I always keep my word".
If she does both then she will be a worthy winner, though I doubt the party whips will let her.
Have you heard Elwyn speak Limpet ? I think you got a bit of anti-woman bias there. The best candidate won and good luck to here.
The saddest thing of all is 86% of the local electorate voted Labour Tory or Lib Dem.When are people going to wake up and realise these 3 main partys couldnt give a stuff about any of us.Its such a shame UKIP BNP and English Democrats split the patriotic vote.
@ The Limpet
You sound like a mysogynist or have another axe to grind.
She unlike some other Candidate did not produce a leaflet denigrating her main opponent.
I've heard her speak and she is very personable and intelligible unlike some others.
An excellent candidate who will appeal to many natural Conservative voters.
Supports the NHS, a more better position on student fees, non career politician, a family life and a member of the most under represented group in British Politics - females!
I think with Debbie being the first ever lady appointed for Oldham it would be fitting to remind everyone of Annie Kenny who was an Oldham suffragette one of the only working class of this group I am sure if she had been still alive she would have been very proud to think she was one of the ladies who made it possible, it was an achievement for her to get the votes for women even if they had to be 30 years old, and now to have a Lady MP for Oldham WOW
Oldhamers have realised that the government's cuts are too much, too soon. Disillusioned Liberals voted Labour, and tactical voting Tories voted Liberal. They walked away from their own party in order to maintain the so called 'Coalition' in power. In reality, this is a Tory government that is supported by power hungry Liberal MPs.
Grassroot liberals have been let down by their leaders.
Have Your Say
The good people of Oldham East and Saddleworth have made an excellent choice in electing the very personable Debbie Abrahams as their new MP. I'm sure most people will agree than women are underrepresented in parliament, so this is a good result all round.
The coalition partners can't have it all ways. Either the Tory vote collapsed and the Lib Dems held their own against the national trend, or many Tories lent their votes to their Lib Dem partners to hide the collapse of the Lib Dems support.
By The Watcher @ 14/01/2011 16:31:04