The Labour government in Britain has lost another by-election.
Labour was beaten by the opposition Conservative party in the Norwich North constituency in eastern England.
The Conservatives overturned Labour's majority of 5549 at the last election in 2005 to take the seat by more than 7000 votes. Turnout in the poll was about 45%.
The poll was the first triggered by a scandal over expenses which has seen dozens of MPs, including the House of Commons Speaker, say they will step down.
Previous MP Ian Gibson quit last month after disclosures that he claimed almost £80,000 in expenses on a London flat which he later sold cheaply to his daughter.
The Labour candidate was handicapped by suspected swine flu, which saw him hospitalised on Tuesday.
Prime minister Gordon Brown admitted it was "clearly a disappointing result," but said voters were disenchanted with all main parties in the wake of the expenses issue.
Mr Brown's government has already suffered two by-election defeats: last year the Conservatives won Crewe and Nantwich in northwest England.
