GLENDA SAFE BY 42 VOTES WHILE DOBBO CELEBRATES GIANT WIN

Friday May 7, 2010

By Richard Osley, Dan Carrier and Tom Foot, at Haverstock School



LABOUR'S Glenda Jackson sensationally proved her doubters wrong and defended her place in Parliament this morning with a spectacular election win in Hampstead and Kilburn. 

In results declared just after 8.15am, she beat Conservative rival Chris Philp by just 42 votes in a dramatic recount at Haverstock School in Chalk Farm. 

It was thought to be the closest margin of victory across the whole of yesterday's (Thursday's) General Election results. Yet the win represents a major triumph in a redrawn constituency that everybody outside of the Labour Party thought was beyond Ms Jackson, who celebrates her 74th birthday on Sunday. 

Dismissed as a spent force, bookmakers had offered 6/1 her winning. The Liberal Democrats, also considered a major threat, were several hundred votes behind with their candidate Ed Fordham. 



Meanwhile, Frank Dobson was close to tears this morning as he was elected as the MP for Holborn and St Pancras for the eighth time.  His voice cracking as he spoke from the winner's stage at Haverstock School, he said he felt privileged for voters to have "entrusted" him once more.

Another superb result for Labour locally, Mr Dobson added around 10,000 to his vote. The MP noted that his victory could translate into more seats on the council if people voted the same way in the Town Hall elections, held at the same time. Those ballots will be counted this afternoon. 

In 2005, Mr Dobson scored 14,857 votes. At a declaration at 6.30am this morning, he was toasting 25,188.

Rather than desert the party, it  appeared old Labour voters had come back, possibly fearing the potential for a Conservative government 

While a confusing national picture unfolded, north London's Labour Party had good reason to celebrate. Karen Buck resisted a challenge from Conservative favourite Joanne Cash in Westminster North and Emily Thornberry made a spectacular defence of her Islington South and Finsbury seat. Both had been warned repeatedly their parliamentary days were over - but stood firm. 

With the Labour vote proving more resolute than expected, members were talking privately about how the Liberal Democrats had been fooled by their own spin. It was certainly clear that the 'Nick Clegg' effect had little influence over the poll. Lib Dems were doing their best to maintain brave faces but the disappointment of missing out in both constituencies after generating so much hope was clear to see. 

The Liberal Democrats placed second in Holborn and St Pancras with 15,256 votes, ahead of Conservative George Lee (11,134) and Green Party  candidate Natalie Bennett (1,480).

In short speeches, the latest set of failed opponents to Mr Dobson in Holborn and St Pancras thanked their support teams. Ms Bennett said the Greens would be celebrating anyway because of the "earth-moving" news that party leader Caroline Lucas had been elected in Brighton Pavilion. 

On polling day, the Lib Dems had suggested Ms Shaw had made such inroads into Mr Dobson's lead that she could cause an upset. The wave of promised Lib Dem support simply didn't happen and the margin of victory will mean the constituency won't even be a top target next time around. 

Mr Dobson, a former leader of Camden Council, said: "I expected to increase my majority but not to double it. Labour has done very well across London. In the local Labour party, people are very active. In residents and tenants associations, I have never lost touch with the people we represent. This is a remarkable achievement in view of the economic downturn and the antipathy towards Labour from all but one national newspaper." 

Ms Shaw said: "I'm very proud of the Camden. It was my first go and  I've had a great time. There were lot of undecided voters who would have changed their minds at the last moment. Frank Dobson is very well loved here, he is held in such affection and I can understand why." 



HOLBORN AND ST PANCRAS RESULT: 

Natalie Bennett (Green) 1480 

Robert Carlyle (BNP) 779 

John Chapman (Independent) 96 

Frank Dobson (Labour) 25198 

George Lee (Conservative) 11134 

Iain Meek (Independent) 44 

Jo Shaw (Lib Dem) 15256 

Max Spencer (UKIP) 587 

Mikel Susperregi (English Democrats) 75 



Total good votes: 54649 

Turnout: 63.50%

HAMPSTEAD AND KILBURN RESULT

Gene Alcantara (Independent) 91 

Beatrix Campbell (Green) 759 

Ed Fordham (Lib Dem) 16,491 

Glenda Jackson (Labour) 17,332 

Victoria Moore (BNP) 328 

Magnus Nielsen (UKIP) 408 

Tamsin Omond (Independent) 123 

Chris Philp (Conservative) 17,290 



Total Good Votes 52822 



Turnout 65.99%