Liberal Democrats on Friday hung on to the southern England parliamentary seat of Eastleigh, dealing a heavy blow to Prime Minister David Cameron whose Conservative Party was beaten into third place.
The election was billed as a straight battle between the Conservatives and the Lib Dems, their junior coalition partner, but the anti-EU UK Independence Party (UKIP) capitalised on voter disillusionment to claim second place.
A senior Conservative earlier warned that third place would be a “crisis” for his party.
The returning officer announced shortly after 02 : 00 GMT that Lib Dem candidate Mike Thornton had secured 13,342 votes, 1,771 more than UKIP representative Diane James.
Tory nominee Maria Hutchings limped in third with 10,559 votes. The victory handed embattled Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg a much-needed boost.
The election was sparked by the resignation of disgraced former energy minister Chris Huhne, a Liberal Democrat who has pleaded guilty to trying to avoid a speeding fine.
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