<p>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. <br /><br /></p>.<p>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. <br /><br />A senior Conservative earlier warned that third place would be a “crisis” for his party. <br />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. <br />Tory nominee Maria Hutchings limped in third with 10,559 votes. The victory handed embattled Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg a much-needed boost. <br /><br />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.</p>
<p>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. <br /><br /></p>.<p>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. <br /><br />A senior Conservative earlier warned that third place would be a “crisis” for his party. <br />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. <br />Tory nominee Maria Hutchings limped in third with 10,559 votes. The victory handed embattled Lib Dem leader Nick Clegg a much-needed boost. <br /><br />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.</p>