[joeysteele]

By elections in the main are usually on low turnouts.
I expected this result and nothing can be read into it really.
It is a former Prime Minister's and extremely long serving MPs seat.
Re Edward Heath.

You can only look at the votes which have been cast, the Con took just over 50% of the votes cast.

I doubt this will EVER be a seat Labour would ever win.
It hasn't come close to before.

James Brokenshire was a really good and valued constituency MP.
It's sad how his time as an MP was ended from his health.

The only thing on this turnout, which doesn't mean anything but it is a simple fact.
Is in all elections the Labour party in Old Bexley have only twice before crossed over into taking on or over 30% of votes cast.
That was in 1997, 2001 and now too in this by election.

Apart from before it became a new seat.
Labour were stronger when it was just Bexley.
Apart from 1983.

So a few crumbs of comfort that perhaps Labour will or can be looked at again.

I always felt this to be a non event as a by election.
I can't ever see Edward Heath's old seat being anything other than a Con one.

So well done to the winner.
I will add that if this had been a Labour seat with a previous 19,000 majority slashed to under 5,000.
It would be being screamed Labour is done, finished.
While it's not a magic moment for Labour, I will add well done to the candidate there for as I say, taking the vote share up around 7% to marginally over 30%.