Voters have sent a "very clear message" to the coalition, Ed Miliband has said after the Conservative-Liberal Democrat alliance suffered a bloody nose in its first by-election test.
The Lib Dems failed to overturn a wafer-thin Labour majority in Oldham East and Saddleworth, with Debbie Abrahams claiming the seat. The Tories saw their vote collapse, amid accusations that they had fought a deliberately lacklustre campaign in an attempt to give their coalition partners a clear run.
With Labour extending its majority from just 103 at the general election last May to 3,558, Mr Miliband said the result showed that voters had rejected coalition policies.
"This is a first step in a long journey for Labour but, more importantly, I hope the Government will listen to what they've said about these key issues," he said as he left his north London home.
"They said to the Government: think again on VAT, think again on the trebling of tuition fees, think again on the police cuts that are going to affect their communities. And I think part of what it should be about in this country is listening to the voters. I think that's what David Cameron and Nick Clegg should do."
The result came as an important boost for the Labour leader, who has been under fire for failing to make a stronger impact since taking the helm of the party last September.
There was relief also among the Lib Dems that the result was not worse, following the dramatic slide in their support since they joined the Conservatives in government. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg insisted it had been a "strong" showing by his party at what was a "challenging time" for the coalition.
"I think the strong result in this by-election for the Liberal Democrats shows that whether we are in government or in opposition, we remain a strong, united independent party whose values continue to attract support," he said. "I think it was a strong result, given the circumstances in which the by-election was fought. It was a by-election held in unusual circumstances at a time when the Government is taking difficult decisions, of which we are a part."
Mr Clegg was meeting senior Lib Dem colleagues to discuss the election result, although aides denied it was a crisis meeting.
The by-election was called after a special court declared last year's contest void due to Labour victor Phil Woolas making false statements about Lib Dem opponent Elwyn Watkins. Mr Watkins polled 11,160 votes to Ms Abrahams' 14,718. Tory Kashif Ali came a distant third with 4,481.
Voters have sent a "very clear message" to the coalition, Ed Miliband has said after the Conservative-Liberal Democrat alliance suffered a bloody nose in its first by-election test.
The Lib Dems failed to overturn a wafer-thin Labour majority in Oldham East and Saddleworth, with Debbie Abrahams claiming the seat. The Tories saw their vote collapse, amid accusations that they had fought a deliberately lacklustre campaign in an attempt to give their coalition partners a clear run.
With Labour extending its majority from just 103 at the general election last May to 3,558, Mr Miliband said the result showed that voters had rejected coalition policies.
"This is a first step in a long journey for Labour but, more importantly, I hope the Government will listen to what they've said about these key issues," he said as he left his north London home.
"They said to the Government: think again on VAT, think again on the trebling of tuition fees, think again on the police cuts that are going to affect their communities. And I think part of what it should be about in this country is listening to the voters. I think that's what David Cameron and Nick Clegg should do."
The result came as an important boost for the Labour leader, who has been under fire for failing to make a stronger impact since taking the helm of the party last September.
There was relief also among the Lib Dems that the result was not worse, following the dramatic slide in their support since they joined the Conservatives in government. Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg insisted it had been a "strong" showing by his party at what was a "challenging time" for the coalition.
"I think the strong result in this by-election for the Liberal Democrats shows that whether we are in government or in opposition, we remain a strong, united independent party whose values continue to attract support," he said. "I think it was a strong result, given the circumstances in which the by-election was fought. It was a by-election held in unusual circumstances at a time when the Government is taking difficult decisions, of which we are a part."
Mr Clegg was meeting senior Lib Dem colleagues to discuss the election result, although aides denied it was a crisis meeting.
The by-election was called after a special court declared last year's contest void due to Labour victor Phil Woolas making false statements about Lib Dem opponent Elwyn Watkins. Mr Watkins polled 11,160 votes to Ms Abrahams' 14,718. Tory Kashif Ali came a distant third with 4,481.