SHEFFIELD CENTRAL: Outcome of poll in steel city on knife-edge

After two recounts, Paul Blomfield eventually held on to Sheffield Central by just 165 votes from Lib Dem challenger and Sheffield Council leader Paul Scriven.

Although the expected impact of Nick Clegg's rise to prominence failed to materialise into a big swing nationally, in Sheffield Central swathes of voters did switch to the Lib Dems.

Throughout a long night of counting at the Ponds Forge sports centre both candidates predicted a close contest before Mr Blomfield eventually squeezed home.

He said: "I'm delighted that we've received the support of the voters in Sheffield Central. The best part of it is that it really was a team effort. We had so many good people in the campaign and it's a victory for the hundreds of people that got involved," he said.

The former chairman of the Sheffield Labour Party polled 17,138 votes to Mr Scriven's 16,973, a result that reflected a swing of 7.4 per cent to the Lib Dems.

Sheffield Central had been represented by former Sports Minister Richard Caborn since 1983 but boundary changes saw the seat gain a part of Nick Clegg's Hallam constituency which had a significant impact.

Mr Blomfield said: "The demographics are profoundly different and we always knew it was going to be close. You can't underestimate the impact of the boundary changes.

"We lost Burngreave which has traditionally supported Labour and gained Broomhill which hasn't. And of the 15 council wards in the constituency only three are Labour.

"We were almost fighting from behind and to have won, albeit by a small margin, was a great victory."

Reflecting on the city's history of returning Labour MPs, Mr Blomfield added: "I'm extraordinarily proud to be a Sheffield MP because this city has a great tradition, a great radical tradition, and I'm very proud to be part of that.

"This is a hugely diverse constituency and to have won the support and trust of the people of the constituency makes me genuinely very honoured."

Mr Caborn, who decided not to stand again, won with a relatively healthy 7,055 majority from the Lib Dems in 2005 on a low turnout of just over 50 per cent.

But a near 10 per cent increase in turnout, coupled with the benefits of a close association with party leader Nick Clegg in the neighbouring seat almost brought Mr Scriven home.

The seat was Sheffield's most keenly contested – with the Lib Dems scenting an opportunity to build on local election success with the big prize of a second parliamentary seat in the city.

Mr Scriven said: "Personally I'm disappointed but actually I'm delighted that so many people voted for change in Sheffield Central and that we came so close to delivering that.

"We had a 9.5 per cent increase in the Liberal Democrat vote and while

"I know that didn't bring about change this time we will continue fighting."

Mr Scriven acknowledged his high-profile as council leader had helped give him a strong showing but also pointed to a big increase in younger voters, particularly students, prepared to vote against the established party.