Family law barrister wins by-election

Edward Timpson, a family law barrister with Nicholas Street Chambers in Chester, has become the new MP for Crewe and Nantwich, after the Conservatives won Thursday's by-election.

Mr Timpson was called to the Bar in 1998 and after completing his degree at Durham University and joined Nicholas Street Chambers. He specialised in family law including all aspects of the Children Act 1989 work.

He received 20,539 votes, while Tamsin Dunwoody, the Labour candidate, received 12,679, and Elizabeth Shenton, the Liberal Democrat candidate, got 6,040. The turn-out at the election was 58.2%.

The by-election was triggered by the death of Labour MP Gwyneth Dunwoody, who held the seat since 1974.

In his victory speech, Mr Timpson praised Gwyneth Dunwoody for the "pride, passion and fortitude" with which she worked for the people of Crewe and Nantwich.

It is the Conservatives first by-election gain since 1983 and their first gain from Labour since 1978.