LABOUR MP Andrew Smith believes his party should learn from the manner of his victory in Oxford East after suffering its worst election in decades.

The former Cabinet minister, who lives in Blackbird Leys, retained his seat of 23 years after defeating Liberal Democrat challenger Dr Steven Goddard.

After the defeat of Dr Evan Harris in Oxford West and Abingdon, Mr Smith is now the only non-Conservative MP in Oxfordshire.

He said his party should take note of the way Labour “did politics in Oxford”.

He said: “I think at a time when politics has come into disrepute, direct contact with people and working effectively for them is the best way.

“There may well be lessons for the Labour Party more generally – there’s something special about the way Labour does politics in Oxford.

“We go out calling round all year round.

“Apart from when I’m on holiday, I have been out on the doorstep every Sunday.

“It’s our councillors and supporters as well. We go out during the week when we can and build a relationship with people.”

Mr Smith beamed with delight when he heard he had not only held the seat yesterday morning, but increased his majority.

Mr Smith took 21,938 votes, while Dr Goddard secured 17,357, a majority of 4,581. Conservative Ed Argar was third with 9,727 votes. In the 2005 election Mr Smith was just 963 votes ahead of Dr Goddard.

The victory was even sweeter for Mr Smith as boundary changes were tipped to boost the Lib Dem vote.

He said: “I’m so grateful to the people of Oxford East for a resounding vote of confidence.

“I had been struck throughout the campaign by how positive the reaction was on the doorstep.

“It seemed to contradict what was coming through all the national polls and it made me wonder whether that was what people were really thinking and feeling.

“Some of the experts had this down as a Lib Dem seat.

“You know something like this is going to be a close fight and I never approach an election with the assumption I’m going to win.”

Speaking to the Oxford Mail last night about negotiations between the parties in the hung Parliament, Mr Smith urged all the parties to listen to the electorate, and added: “I think Gordon Brown is acting properly and constitutionally.”

Asked whether he thought Mr Brown should stand down as leader of the Labour Party he said: “I’m not going to get into the speculation at this stage about the leadership of the party.”

  • DEFEATED Liberal Democrat candidate Dr Steve Goddard said he firmly believed he could one day take the seat.

The Oxford University lecturer said: “Of course we would have loved to have won. I won’t deny I’m disappointed, but we did get more votes than last time.

“I’m very proud we managed to increase our number of votes and it’s going to remain a two-horse race between the Liberal Democrats and Labour.”

Dr Goddard said: “They won it by simply throwing the kitchen sink at it.

“We gave them one hell of a scare five years ago and we aren’t going anywhere. I firmly believe this seat can be Lib Dem.”