Tories win seat at New Labour birthplace

The Conservatives have secured a dramatic victory in the London council seat from which Tony Blair began his rise to power.

The party last night took Queensbridge ward in Hackney - where the Prime Minister became Labour branch secretary in 1981 - with a 25 per cent swing. The area was the birthplace of New Labour.

The scale of the victory comes as a shock in an area seen as Labour heartland.

Conservative Andrew Boff took first place with 696 votes - 101 ahead of Labour's Patrick Vernon. Liberal Democrat Eugene Egan came third with 334.

George Galloway's Respect party polled 291.

The result gives the Tories 10 councillors in Hackney.

The borough is run by a Labour mayor, Jules Pipe, who enjoys a sizeable majority. Eric Ollerenshaw, Tory group leader on Hackney council, said a key factor in Labour losing was its plan to spend ?64 million rebuilding the town hall at a time when schools and hospitals were crying out for money.