Here we go again

WHERE it all began . . . Jane Blackburn votes at Saddleworth Civic Hall — where Phil Woolas was stripped of his seat

All eyes on Oldham as voting begins again 

OLDHAM’S historic by-election got off to a damp start this morning as the media scrum descended on the borough.

Hundreds of TV and radio crews, journalists and political pundits are gearing up for the first big test of the coalition Government.

More than 124 media from 42 organisations have asked for passes for tonight’s count at the Queen Elizabeth Hall — and the council has even had an inquiry about the election from the Koyodo News in Tokyo.

Last-minute canvassing started as early at 5.15am when leaflets were delivered to homes.

But voting was slow when the 58 polling stations opened across Oldham East and Saddleworth in drizzle at 7am. In May’s General Election early morning voters queued to get to the ballot box at Glodwick Infant and Nursery School.

This morning it was deserted and occasional rain and showers are predicted for throughout the day.

The spotlight has been thrown on Oldham since former Immigration Minister Phil Woolas was stripped of the seat he won by just 103 votes from Liberal Democrat Elwyn Watkins.

He was found guilty of lying about his main rival in leaflets by an election court at Saddleworth Civic Hall — the first in 99 years.

Parties and candidates have been fighting for every one of the 72,788 votes since the by-election was called last month.

A succession of political heavyweights have descended with Labour Leader Ed Miliband and his Lib-Dem counterpart Nick Clegg each visiting three times.

David Cameron broke with the convention that Prime Ministers do not unusually campaign in by-elections.

Labour remain the bookies’ favourites to keep the seat after polls close at 10pm but the figures will be scrutinised in the coming days.

A win for Labour will not only be bad for the Lib-Dems, who narrowly lost in May after two re-counts, but how many votes Conservative candidate Kashif Ali polls will be crucial.


Candidate list
Debbie Abrahams (Labour)

Derek Adams (British National Party)

Kashif Ali (Conservative)

Peter Allen (Green Party)

David Bishop (Bus-Pass Elvis Party)

The Flying Brick (Monster Raving Loony Party)

Loz Kaye (Pirate Party of the United Kingdom)

Stephen Morris (English Democrats)

Paul Nuttall MEP (UKIP)

Elwyn Watkins (Liberal Democrats)