Unfortunately Liberal Democrat Jody Dunn was just pipped by the Labour Party candidate in the Hartlepool by-election. However the Labour majority was cut to just 2,033 down from over 14,000. The Tories finished a disastrous fourth, the result represents a 19.2% swing to the Liberal Democrats.

The dirty tricks which have marred this election continued into polling day. At 3am on Thursday morning the police and fire service were called to Lib Dem HQ because somebody had sprayed expanding polystyrene at the door and then chained the door shut, while volunteers were still inside. At the result declaration Fathers 4 Justice campaigners poured purple powder over Jody Dunn in protest at her job as a family law barrister. However the majority of the dirty tricks were perpertrated by the Labour Party who were warned about their tactics during the campaign by the police.