Constituents are already casting their votes in today’s Norwich North by-election but there will be no point in staying up after the close to see if the Tories do get the big win that the polls are predicting.  The reason being is that the count will not begin until Friday morning with a result due at about midday.  It is claimed that the count will happen on Friday because partly because staffing a daytime count is easier.  However this has not been a problem in previous by-elections.

This is the first by-election since the MPs’ expenses scandal and was brought about by the resignation of Labour MP Ian Gibson after revelations that he used parliamentary expenses to fund for his daughter’s London home and then sold it to her for considerably below the market value.