Majority slashed, but Tories hold seat

THE Conservatives survived a strong challenge from the Liberal Democrats to hang on to David Cameron’s old parliamentary seat, despite seeing their majority slashed in the Witney by-election.

Barrister Robert Courts secured the victory over Lib Dem Liz Leffman but saw Mr Cameron’s majority cut from more than 25,000 at last year’s general election to just 5,702.

Earlier Labour comfortably held on to Batley and Spen — left vacant since the killing of MP Jo Cox just days before the EU referendum — with the other main parties not standing in a mark of respect.

But the biggest gainers on the night were the Lib Dems who saw a 19.3% swing from the Conservatives in Witney — a seat where they finished a distant fourth last year — overtaking Labour which fell back to third.

Lib Dem leader Tim Farron said the result was a rejection of the Tories’ plans for a “hard Brexit” while marking a return to the “political big time” for his party after their disastrous general election.

The Tories took 17,313 votes just over 45% of the vote share — down from Mr Cameron’s 60% in 2015 — while the Lib Dems with 11,611 received 30% of the vote, up from 6.8% last year.

Labour, with 5,765, gained just under 15% — down slightly from the 17% it had at the general election. All the other candidates lost their deposits. QUIZ ANSWERS: 1. 1950. 2. Crossing streets. 3. Bjork. 4. Cornwall. 5. No. 6. Hairy. Missing link: FOOT.