Lib Dems win at Eastleigh

9:57 pm, Fri 01 Mar 2013

Eastleigh as it happened - Phil Hornby's special report

Here's our Political Editor Phil Hornby on the by-election battle's day and night.

He speaks to Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg, UKIP leader Nigel Farage, George Hollingbery, Conservative MP for Meon Valley, John Denham, Labour MP for Southampton Itchen, and Mike Thornton, Lib Dem MP for Eastleigh.

8:24 pm, Fri 01 Mar 2013

Eastleigh: the day after - full report

So, how did the people of Eastleigh feel when they woke up to the news this morning? Andrew Pate reports.

Nigel Farage with Fred and Sangeeta - full interview

2:26 pm, Fri 01 Mar 2013

Conservative candidate on Eastleigh loss: 'No comment'

The borough of Eastleigh is returning to normal this lunchtime after three weeks of intensive campaigning. The Liberal Democrats have retained the seat, which became available when Chris Huhne resigned.

While UKIP had their best ever showing coming in second, ahead of the Conservatives. Andrew Pate has more.

1:27 pm, Fri 01 Mar 2013

Clegg hails win but PM 'confident'

Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg has hailed his party's success in the Eastleigh by-election.

Read the full story

12:42 pm, Fri 01 Mar 2013 National

Labour MP: Eastleigh result was 'disaster' for party

The Labour backbencher Austin Mitchell has described Labour finishing fourth in the Eastleigh by-election "a disaster":

Eastleigh disaster. Labour needs a nationalist appeal. The nation is being betrayed,weakened and sold down river.We sd say so

From @AVMitchell2010 on Twitter: ( 9:19 am, Fri 01 Mar 2013)

Tory MP blames councillors for by-election defeat

The Conservative MP Conor Burns appears to blame local councillors rather than the central party leadership for the party's poor performance in the Eastleigh by-election:

The Eastleigh result is in no small part a consequence of withered local organisation caused by an absence of Council leadership or vision

From @Conor_BurnsMP on Twitter: (10:53 am, Fri 01 Mar 2013)

Watch: Conservative candidate Maria Hutchings ignores reporters' questions

12:42 pm, Fri 01 Mar 2013 National

UKIP: Eastleigh tremor will become national earthquake

UKIP leader Nigel Farage has told a press conference that "never again" will people say voting for the party is a wasted vote, following the Eastleigh by-election where the party finished second.

He added that he intended to capitalise on the "tremor" UKIP had created in Eastleigh and turn it into a "national political earthquake" at the European elections next year.