Labour candidate, Andrew Slaughter

Counting Underway in Uxbridge By-election

Neither of the front-running parties were confident of victory, but either way, it was set to be a ground-breaking result.

If the Tories win, they will be taking their first by-election seat since 1989 when the party leader William Hague won his Richmond seat in Yorkshire. Victory would be a much-needed boost to Tory morale, virtually crushed after the May 1 disaster.

Tory candidate, John Randall

But if Labour is victorious, it will be the first time the governing party has taken a seat from the Opposition since 1982.

Voting had been slow during a day of rainy, drizzly weather, with official figures put the turnout at 55%.

Before the vote, the Bookmakers William Hill made Labour 8/11 favourite to win the previously Tory seat, with the Conservatives at even money and the Liberal Democrats 66/1.

The poll was sparked by the death of Tory MP Sir Michael Shersby just a week after the general election in which he bucked the forecasts to fend off Labour, clinging to his seat with a narrow majority of just 724.

Lib Dem candidate, Keith Kerr

Labour's campaign has been overshadowed by a row over the decision to ditch the party's general election candidate David Williams. Some local party workers were infuriated that he was not even shortlisted as a possible candidate for the by-election.

A second by-election is looming for later this year after this week's death of Gordon McMaster, Labour MP for Paisley South.

11 Candidates Fight Seat

The candidates in the Uxbridge by-election are:

• Ian Anderson, National Democrat
• Ronnie Carroll, Emerald Rainbow Islands Dream Ticket Party
• James Feisenberger, Independence Party
• Keith Kerr, Liberal Democrat
• Julia Leonard, Socialist Party
• John McCauley, National Front
• Henry Middleton, Original Liberal Party
• John Randall, Conservative
• Andrew Slaughter, Labour
• Lord David Sutch, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party
• Frances Taylor, British National Party