Stunning victory for Liberal Democrat Sarah Teather in Brent East by-election

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 19th Sep 2003

Sarah Teather's victory in the Brent East by-election shows how disillusioned the electorate are with both the labour Government and the Conservative opposition - or lack of opposition. Commenting on the result Totnes Parliamentary Spokesperson, Mike Treleaven, said:

' The tide is turning for Tony Blair and New Labour but for Ian Duncan Smith's Conservatives it is a terrible result. This dramatic victory is part of the continuing rise of the Liberal Democrats and follows their 30% poll across Great Britain in May. We are now much higher in the polls than in the corresponding period in the last Parliament and set to make many more gains from all parties.

If this result was repeated in the Totnes Constituency it would put the Liberal Democrats on track for a 2431 vote victory based on turnout at the last general election. Not only did we win but the Tories were badly beaten into third place'