The Conservatives have won the Henley by-election, pushing Labour into fifth place on the day Prime Minister Gordon Brown marks his first year in office.

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Mr Howell thanked voters and admitted he "had big shoes to fill".

Labour candidate Richard McKenzie lost his deposit as he trailed in behind the Greens and the British National Party.

The turnout was just over 50%, compared with 67.9% in 2005.

Oxfordshire councillor Mr Howell said the vote showed that people had had enough of Labour.

"The British public has sent a message to Gordon Brown 'get off our backs, stop the endless tax rises and help us cope with the rising cost of living'," he said.

"It's clear that the New Labour coalition is falling apart and that the Conservatives under David Cameron's leadership are on the march.

"It is our agenda of giving people more opportunity and control over their own lives, of making families stronger and society more responsible, of making Britain safer and greener that is setting the pace in politics now."

(BBC)

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