It was billed as the coldest polling day, possibly ever - but for Labour it ended with the warm glow of hope turning into expectation. Yes, the party was always expected to win the Stretford and Urmston by-election handsomely.
Kate Green had secured 60.3% of the vote for Labour in the 2019 General Election - a night that didn't exactly go to plan for the party - while a backdrop of chaos in Westminster and a cost of living crisis has seen the Conservatives' popularity plummet in national polling. But the by-election ended with Labour widening its winning margin over the Tories - albeit with a massively reduced turnout on a bitterly cold winter's day.
Andrew Western was named Stretford and Urmston's new MP at 3am this morning (December 16), in an announcement met with huge cheers from giddy party members gathered in the warmth of a suite at Manchester United's Old Trafford stadium. With 69.4% of the vote, the party's excitement was justified.
"I am humbled beyond belief by the mandate the Stretford and Urmston people have given me to represent them and I promise I will not let you down," said Mr Western. "There has been a strong message sent out with the result this evening.
"This Government has been letting us down for the last 12 years. The Tories have given up on governing and it's increasingly clear that the British people have given up on them."
Speaking to reporters following his victory, Mr Western confirmed he would step down as Trafford Council's leader to focus on his new role. Mr Western's predecessor, Kate Green, had stepped down as Stretford and Urmston MP to take on her new role as deputy mayor for Greater Manchester, with responsibility for policing.
The odds were firmly stacked against the other parties in the race. Ms Karter-Candola's challenge was the latest test for the Conservative Party's popularity at the end of a turbulent year and her 15.8% of the vote, down from 27.5% for the party's candidate in 2019, hints at the battle that lies ahead for the Tories before the next general election.
Dan Jerrome, who finished in third place as the Green Party's candidate, said the election had been a chance to discuss climate emergency and felt that 'people like what we're talking about'. While he admitted success at the polls was unlikely, the party has more hope for Altrincham and Sale West in the next election, following recent success in the area on Trafford Council elections.
Mr Jerrome said: "Stretford and Urmston is always difficult for us and with the current voting system, it is very unfair. A lot of people feel that it becomes a two horse race and they can't really vote for the party they believe in, so a lot of votes are wasted."
Liberal Democrat candidate Anna Fryer had expected the Tory vote to drop on a 'really, really cold' day in the cost of living crisis which had also seen unprecedented strike action for nurses amid growing concerns about the NHS. She said: "People are very, very concerned.
"They're struggling, they're having to choose between heating and eating, and what's really interesting about the cost of living crisis is that it's affecting a lot of people - it's not just people who are more vulnerable, it's quite universal."
With the worry of sky-high bills in a winter which is proving to be bitter, Labour shadow cabinet member Lucy Powell said voters had an appetite for change.
"It's been incredibly cold... but despite that we've had a really warm reception today as we have throughout this campaign, because people wanted to make their views known and they wanted to see a change", she said. "They want to see a change of government."
Hear more about the by-election from Local Democracy Reporter Nick Jackson in The Northern Agenda podcast
Before leaving Old Trafford, Mr Western described the by-election as a 'damning indictment of the Conservatives'. With a record result for Labour in Stretford and Urmston, the result appears to be yet another warning for the party's opponents.
Final results
Andrew Western, Labour - 12,828 / 69.43%
Emily Carter-Kandola, Conservative - 2,922 / 15.82%
Dan Jerrome, Green Party - 789 / 4.27%
Anna Fryer, Liberal Democrats - 659 / 3.57%
Paul Swansborough, Reform UK - 650 / 3.52%
Jim Newell, Rejoin EU - 237 / 1.28%
Hazel Gibb, independent - 183 / 0.99%
Christina Glancy, Freedom Alliance - 76 / 0.41%
Julien Yvon, SDP - 74 / 0.40%
Turnout - 25.8% (down from 69.2% in 2019)
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