The Tories slip to third place

THE Labour party has won the first by-election of the coalition era, in the Manchester constituency of Oldham and Saddleworth East, with 42.1% of the vote and a majority of 3,558. The Liberal Democrats did better than many expected, coming second with 31.9% of the vote. The most striking change was in the fate of the Conservatives, who shed more than 7,000 votes and ended up in third place, with just 12.8%. More soon.