Labour 553
Respect 666
Independent 28
Lib Dem 33
Tory 128
Green 52
Shame - A Labour defeat but is actually not as bad as I thought it would be given the circumstances. This is not a victory for "Respect" but for "Community Politics" and certain rich local businessmen. This seat will return to Labour at the next full election.
Picture of a very, very cold but positive Labour Party canvass team working the Spitalfields and Banglatown by-election this evening in Tower Hamlets. Including West Ham CLP members and our local East London Assembly member, John Biggs (right). It was snowing at first but then stopped. It remained bitterly cold. Our job was to call at identified Labour supporters and "remind" them to go out and vote. Picture in Whitechapel Road.
This evening confirmed my view that being "On the knocker" is not a winter sport.
UPDATE: apparently a 16% turnout and yes - 666 is the number of
