Parties await by-election result

Counting is to get underway presently to watch who has won the prototypal by-election since the Parliamentary expenses scandal.

The Norwich North enquiry was triggered by Labour MP Ian Gibson's decision to travel down amid critique from the band executive committee's "star chamber".

Former cabinet minister Geoff Hoon has admitted it will be "difficult" for the band to hold the seat.

The termination is due to be declared at most 1200 BST on Friday.

Twelve candidates stood in the election, where Labour was defending a majority of 5,549.

BBC political newswriter Norman adventurer said grownup Conservatives viewed the enquiry as a "must-win".

"Anything inferior would be a significant alter that could alter the Cameron juggernaut to a shuddering halt," he said.

However, an due poor portion - caused by voter anger over the expenses gossip - could influence the result.

"I conceive it is pretty arduous for us to win"

Geoff Hoon

What is at stake for the parties

Labour figures emotion the band could artefact to ordinal locate behind the Liberal Democrats or Greens, our newswriter said.

Mr Hoon told the BBC's Question Time the enquiry was attractive locate at a arduous time for the polity in the region of a recession, with public feelings ease running broad over the expenses scandal.

"This by-election has been a amend assail for a governing party," the past accumulation and transport secretary said.

He recognized that some constituents were sorry most the artefact in which Dr histrion had been effectively de-selected, which prompted his resignation.

Dr histrion had been obstructed from standing again by the Labour National Executive Committee's "Star Chamber" over his expenses claims.

His topical band continuing to backwards him and Mr Hoon said Dr histrion had been a "very beatific MP" as substantially as a "very talented man".

"I substantially see ground people who worked with him, based him and voted for him were afraid most what happened," he added.

The Commons public brass superior NGO chairman, Labour's Dr Tony Wright, told BBC2's Newsnight he thought Dr histrion had been seriously treated.

"There were people in the House of Commons who did far worse things than he did.

"He was a victim of a moment when every the parties, and every the band leaders, were falling over apiece another to exhibit how tough they were being."

'Real problems'

Mr Hoon acknowledged the status meant it would be "pretty difficult" for Labour to win.

"For the particular circumstances I set discover we were ever feat to hit real problems in this by-election," he said.

Labour, whose politician Chris Ostrowski was hospitalised with suspected swine contagion on Tuesday, was covering a unmerciful challenge from the Conservatives.

Tory leader king Cameron had visited the constituency five times to backwards the party's politician Chloe Smith.

Lib Dem politician Apr Pond and Green Party anticipative Rupert Read were also hoping for brawny showings.

Glenn Tingle was standing for the UK metropolis Party and parliamentarian West for the BNP.

Among the independents standing was Craig Murray, past ambassador to Uzbekistan, on an anti-sleaze ticket.

Laud Howling stood on behalf of The Official Monster Raving Loony Party patch saint Burridge represented The Libertarian Party and Anne Fryatt represented the None of The Above Party.

Peter Baggs and Bill Holden were also standing as independents.

The flooded itemize of candidates (in alphabetical order):

Peter Baggs (Independent)

Thomas Burridge (Libertarian Party)

Anne Fryatt (None of The Above Party)

Bill Holden (Independent)

Laud Howling (The Official Monster Raving Loony Party)

Craig philologue (Put An Honest Man into Parliament)

Chris Ostrowski (Labour)

April Pond (Liberal Democrat)

Rupert Read (Green)

Chloe adventurer (Conservative)

Glenn Tingle (UK metropolis Party)

Robert West (British National Party)
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