General election 2010: Tories take Warwickshire North - just

Friday, 7 May 2010 4:57 AM

By Catherine Stevenson

Conservative Dan Byles has been elected as MP to Warwickshire North with a majority of just 54 votes over his Labour counterpart.

Mr Byles enjoyed a swing of 7.7% to his party to secure 18,993 votes and narrowly defeat Labour minister Mike O'Brien who had 18,939.

Mr O'Brien had been the constituency's MP since 1992. Prior to Mr O'Brien's election the seat was held by the Conservatives.

The coal-mining heritage of the seat has spurred a core Labour vote, but it has proved to low to secure Mr O'Brien on this occasion.

The seat was 147th on the Conservative target list. On a night where every seat counts there will be sighs of relief in Tory HQ.

The utter absence of a uniform swing means all seats gained over the 116 initial targets for David Cameron to secure an overall majority are vital.

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