Was the Oldham West by-election a test for Corbyn?
Labour has won a comfortable victory in the Oldham West by-election with candidate Jim McMahon getting a 10,835-vote majority.
McMahon’s vote share was 62% – higher than at the general election.
The by-election is the first since the General Election in May and was triggered by the death of Michael Meacher, the constituency’s long-serving Labour MP.
It was billed as a test of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn’s politics and, if that’s what it was, then he passed with flying colours as Labour received the best result of any party ever in that seat.
However, runner up party UKIP said they had seen evidence to suggest the postal vote was “bent” and called for an investigation.
Labour polling predicted 32% would back them in Oldham. The number that did in the end? 62.11% pic.twitter.com/GgmgUgfdux
— Asa Bennett (@asabenn) December 4, 2015
“Labour not doing well in West Oldham will say a great deal about Corbyn” “Labour doing well in W Oldham says nothing at all about Corbyn”
— Robin Ince (@robinince) December 4, 2015
It wasn’t just the “pundits” who got it wrong: I’ve not met a single person inside Labour who thought margin of victory would be this big.
— Conor Pope (@Conorpope) December 4, 2015
And here’s what the politicians have to say:
Good to be one of the first to congratulate @jeremycorbyn in person on his Oldham win – we’re on the same train to Manchester this am
— George Osborne (@George_Osborne) December 4, 2015
Congrats @CllrJimMcMahon who has won the Oldham West & Royton by-election and increased our share of vote since May pic.twitter.com/uZgtpDfdKv
— Jeremy Corbyn MP (@jeremycorbyn) December 4, 2015
As a veteran of over thirty by-elections I have never seen such a perverse result. Serious questions need to be asked.
— Nigel Farage (@Nigel_Farage) December 4, 2015
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