David Cameron: By-election 'not an unexpected result'

The Prime Minister David Cameron has said Labour's victory in the Oldham East and Saddleworth by-election was "not an unexpected result".

In Thursday's by-election Labour secured a much clearer victory - finishing 3,558 votes ahead of the Lib Dems with 14,718 votes while the Conservatives polled 4,481 votes (12.8% share).

Although the Lib Dems failed to snatch the seat, their share of the vote actually increased slightly, from 31.6% at the general election to 31.9%.

On a visit to the north-east David Cameron said it was necessary to explain to people why decisions made by the coalition government were in the "long-term interests of everyone in our country".