Tories retain Henley but with much reduced majority

10.08.55am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 27th Jun 2008

Lib Dem Candidate Stephen Kearney

The Liberal Democrats were very creditable runners-up in the Henley by-election, increasing their share of the vote from 2005 and polling 28% of the votes cast. Their next nearest rivals polled just 4%. The so-called swing to the Conservatives was recorded at 3%, but their majority was reduced. This was hardly a definitive endorsement for them as a potential ruling party in the future

The turn-out of 50% was down by 18% from 2005.The Labour candidate lost his deposit as he trailed in 5th behind the Greens and the British National Party.

The Liberal Democrat candidate, Stephen Kearney, said voters were angry and fed up with the government. "This is an abysmal result for the Labour party that has been in government for almost 11 years and has lost most of its support. But I have found no positive enthusiasm for the Conservative alternative. The Conservatives can say what they are against, but they have failed to say anything about what they are for and what they stand for."

"Local people have today said that they want to protect the countryside, they want to support local services like the Post office and GP surgeries and above all they want the Government to recognise the pressures that are now being felt by hardworking families."

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg

Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg said "The result showed Labour's days are well and truly over and it is the Liberal Democrats who are challenging the Conservatives in the south and Labour in the north."