Mr Major’s Doorstep Comment on By-Election Result – 11 April 1996

Below is the text of Mr Major’s doorstep comments, made on 11th April 1996, on the by-election result the previous night.

PRIME MINISTER:

I have been in politics long enough not to over react to any one by-election result. I remember many people consigned the Government to oblivion after the Ribble Valley by-election where the swing was the same. We went on to win the General Election a year later with the largest popular vote ever.

I was disappointed by last night’s result, But politics isn’t an easy ride. I’m here to do what’s right and stick with it.

The statistics that really matter are not those of by-elections but low inflation, falling mortgage rates, more jobs and lower taxes. Those are the ones that really count.

I believe the results of our hard work are coming through, but we’ve still got a lot of work to do to get our message across. And that’s what we are going to do.