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13 January 2011
Last updated at 20:38 ET
Labour say they expect to win the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election with a majority of up to 3,000 as the announcement of the result draws near.
The Lib Dems and Conservatives have also said they expect Labour to prevail in the Greater Manchester seat.
Turnout was 48% with the result set to be declared at about 0200 GMT.
The by-election was called after a special court found ex-Labour minister Phil Woolas lied about his Lib Dem opponent in May's general election.
Labour won the seat by just 103 votes in May from the Liberal Democrats but the result was later declared void by three judges, and Mr Woolas barred from standing for public office, triggering the first by-election since the government was formed in May.
Polls throughout the contest suggested Labour were on course to hold the seat and party sources said they expected to hold the seat with an increased majority of between 2,000 and 3,000.
Lib Dem sources told the Press Association they believed Labour were set for victory with a margin of about 1,000 votes.
The BBC's chief political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said Labour had clearly increased the wafer-thin majority they gained in May.
Arriving at the count in Oldham, Labour candidate Debbie Abrahams was cheered by local activists and handed a bouquet of flowers.
Turnout in the contest was considerably lower than in the general election.
After polls closed at 2200 GMT, it emerged that 48% of registered voters cast their ballots compared with 61% in May.
'Hopeful' Shadow education secretary Andy Burnham told the BBC the result looked "promising" for Labour and that he was "hopeful" of victory.
He said Labour had "really got its message through" on the door steps during the campaign and the public had shown their anger over the coalition's "broken promises".
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
For the Lib Dems, Norman Lamb said if the anticipated result came to pass, it would be a "very creditable result" for the party now that it was in government.
He said the party's vote appeared to have held up, contrary to predictions that it would "collapse".
The result reflected the fact that the Lib Dems were having to make "difficult decisions" in government, he added, particularly over student tuition fees and VAT.
"It is not a good time for the Lib Dems to be fighting an election but we have appeared to have done very well," he said.
First test The by-election is the first significant opportunity that voters have had to pass judgement on the policies of the coalition government and Ed Miliband's performance as opposition leader.
All the main party leaders visited the constituency during the campaign, with Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg making three appearances to support his party's candidate.
For the Conservatives, party vice chairman Michael Fallon said Labour had held the seat since 1987 so it would not be a great surprise if they won again.
Mr Fallon said the vote of parties in third place tended to be squeezed in by-elections. "It looks like that is what has happened," he added.
Ten candidates are standing in the contest.
Did you vote? What do you think of the result? What do you think the impact will be on the coalition government?
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
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The Lib Dems and Conservatives have also said they expect Labour to prevail in the Greater Manchester seat.
Turnout was 48% with the result set to be declared at about 0200 GMT.
The by-election was called after a special court found ex-Labour minister Phil Woolas lied about his Lib Dem opponent in May's general election.
Labour won the seat by just 103 votes in May from the Liberal Democrats but the result was later declared void by three judges, and Mr Woolas barred from standing for public office, triggering the first by-election since the government was formed in May.
Polls throughout the contest suggested Labour were on course to hold the seat and party sources said they expected to hold the seat with an increased majority of between 2,000 and 3,000.
Lib Dem sources told the Press Association they believed Labour were set for victory with a margin of about 1,000 votes.
The BBC's chief political correspondent Laura Kuenssberg said Labour had clearly increased the wafer-thin majority they gained in May.
Arriving at the count in Oldham, Labour candidate Debbie Abrahams was cheered by local activists and handed a bouquet of flowers.
Turnout in the contest was considerably lower than in the general election.
After polls closed at 2200 GMT, it emerged that 48% of registered voters cast their ballots compared with 61% in May.
'Hopeful' Shadow education secretary Andy Burnham told the BBC the result looked "promising" for Labour and that he was "hopeful" of victory.
He said Labour had "really got its message through" on the door steps during the campaign and the public had shown their anger over the coalition's "broken promises".
Continue reading the main story “Start Quote
It is not a good time for the Lib Dems to be fighting an election”
End Quote
Norman Lamb
For the Lib Dems, Norman Lamb said if the anticipated result came to pass, it would be a "very creditable result" for the party now that it was in government.
He said the party's vote appeared to have held up, contrary to predictions that it would "collapse".
The result reflected the fact that the Lib Dems were having to make "difficult decisions" in government, he added, particularly over student tuition fees and VAT.
"It is not a good time for the Lib Dems to be fighting an election but we have appeared to have done very well," he said.
First test The by-election is the first significant opportunity that voters have had to pass judgement on the policies of the coalition government and Ed Miliband's performance as opposition leader.
All the main party leaders visited the constituency during the campaign, with Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg making three appearances to support his party's candidate.
For the Conservatives, party vice chairman Michael Fallon said Labour had held the seat since 1987 so it would not be a great surprise if they won again.
Mr Fallon said the vote of parties in third place tended to be squeezed in by-elections. "It looks like that is what has happened," he added.
Ten candidates are standing in the contest.
Did you vote? What do you think of the result? What do you think the impact will be on the coalition government?
Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7725 100 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here.
Read the terms and conditions
Webmaster Forum | SEO Forum | Coding Forum | Graphics Forum</b>