Labour wins Heywood and Middleton, but UKIP slashes majority

New Heywood and Middleton MP Liz McInnes moments after news of her victory

2 More Image(s) In Gallery

Scroll down for Video

Labour has held the seat of Heywood and Middleton in a by-election, but with its majority slashed by the UK Independence Party.

Liz McInnes held the seat by a 617-vote margin, down from 5,971 in 2010.

A 'bundle check' of votes took place due to the closeness of the result. 

The number of votes recorded for UKIP increased by over 900% from the last General Election (1,215 votes in 2010).

The seat has been held by Labour since its creation in 1983.

Liz McInnes said: “It is a huge honour to be elected to represent our community in Parliament.

“Tonight people in Heywood and Middleton gave their backing to Ed Miliband’s plan for an NHS with the time to care. They know only Labour will stand up for people here and across the country, with a plan to tackle the cost-of-living crisis and, only Labour will save the NHS.

“People in Heywood and Middleton have rejected a Tory Government that only stands up for a privileged few.”

UKIP candidate John Bickley said: "Labour are in big trouble. This should have been a safe seat. They have thrown everything at it and they have only just scraped home."

Votes

Liz McInnes - Labour (elected): 11,633
John Joseph Bickley - UKIP: 11,016
Iain Brian Gartside - Conservative: 3,496
Anthony J Smith - Liberal Democrat: 1,457
Abigail Louise Jackson - Green: 870

Share of the vote

• Labour - 40.8%
• UKIP - 38.6%
• Conservative - 12.3%
• Liberal Democrat - 5.1%
• Green - 3%

Electorate 79,170
Total votes 28,472
Turnout 36%