LABOUR S Jim Fitzpatrick trounced his old adversary George Galloway who had to be content with third place in Poplar and Limehouse. Mr Fitzpatrick won the Westminster hot seat with 18,679 votes, ahead of Tory Tim Archer who stole 12,649 of the votes. M

LABOUR'S Jim Fitzpatrick trounced his old adversary George Galloway who had to be content with third place in Poplar and Limehouse.

Mr Fitzpatrick won the Westminster hot seat with 18,679 votes, ahead of Tory Tim Archer who stole 12,649 of the votes.

Mr Galloway failed to show up to hear he had won 8,160 votes.

Pundits thought the tough fight between the two could pave the way for Cllr Archer to take the seat for the Conservatives.

But early on it seemed apparent that Mr Fitzpatrick would win the seat - a rejig of his old seat of Poplar and Canning Town, which lost the Newham parts of the constituency and took in affluent Wapping and poor Shadwell instead.

Lib Dem Jonathan Fryer came fourth with 5,209 votes.

Food and Farming minister Mr Fitzpatrick hit out at smears that he was Islamophobic, that he would ban traditional Muslim weddings and shut the East London Mosque.

And he spoke about "The Disrespect party".

"You don't have to listen to that dreadful open topped bus driving round Tower Hamlets. I can claim that as my first action as the new MP for Poplar and Limehouse is to reduce noise pollution."

He added: "I am humbled by your trust and your faith in me."

His majority increased from 15,628 in his former seat and he said: "It's a very good victory for me and for the Labour party."

And he said he felt vindicated about speaking out about his concerns about the alleged influence of the Islamic Forum of Europe in Tower Hamlets politics.

Last year he provoked anger when he spoke out about a segregated Muslim wedding at the London Muslim Centre.

Tim Archer remained resolutely upbeat , despite taking second place.

He said: "Over 12,000 people in Poplar and Limehouse went out to vote Conservative.

"I really don't think that I could have done anything more.

"Jim's vote went up a lot. Our vote went up too."

And he said the tight fight meant voters got to know their candidates and a range of hustings and on the doorstep.

"They have had their candidates working really hard for them."

Results

Tim Archer , Conservative 12,649; Jim Fitzpatrick, Labour 18,679; Jonathan Fryer, Liberal Democrat, 5,209; George Galloway, Respect, 8160; Mohammed Hoque, Independent, 167; Wayne Lochner, UKIP, 565; Kabir Mahmud, Independent, 293; Andrew Osborne, English Democrat, 470; Chris Smith, Green, 449; Jim Thornton, Independent, 59.

Disallowed or spoilt votes 506.