The Brent East by-election takes place today. The seat was held by Labour's Paul Daisley until his death in June. The full list of candidates is Robert Evans (Labour), Uma Fernandes (Conservative), Sarah Teather (Liberal Democrat), Noel Lynch (Green Party), Brian Hall (UK Independence Party), Iris Cremer (Socialist Labour Party), Brian Butterworth (Socialist Alliance against war and privatisation), Khidori Fawzi Ibrahim (Public Services Not War), "Rainbow" George Weiss, Harold Immanuel (Independent), Kelly McBride (Independent), Winston McKenzie (Independent), Neil Walsh (Independent), Alan a.k.a. Howling Lord Hope (Official Monster Raving Loony Party), Aaron Barschak, and Jiten Bardwaj. It going ot be close - will Labour get a bloody nose from the Lib Dems with the Tories reduced to an embarassing third?
So Labour lost their first by-election since Blair took power. Worrying that it's in such a 'traditional' Labour seat as Brent East (Ken Livingstone's was the former MP) but even if this was reflected in a general election it would have a far more damaging impact on the Tories.
