AN ELECTION runner-up claims a hung Parliament means he could snatch Weaver Vale from the Tories within six months.

Labour’s John Stockton was narrowly defeated by Conservative Graham Evans in Weaver Vale last Thursday.

But the Halton Brook councillor said the seat could be up for grabs again if no stable Government is established.

Mr Stockton also claimed that he would have won the seat if he had campaigned for as long as his Tory rival.

He was drafted in as Labour’s candidate eight weeks ago when the previous MP Mike Hall announced he was standing down due to ill health.

Mr Stockton said: “We could have another election in six to 12 months and we need to make sure we can succeed nationally as well as locally.

“It’s going to take a lot of hard work but we won’t give up, I know we can win it.

“We had a very positive campaign with all the troops and activists but only seven weeks to run the campaign. With three to six months we could have taken that seat.

“We did partially challenge the count and at one point it looked as if we would win but there was a sudden surge for the Conservatives.

“We are looking forward to fighting for it again and taking the fight to the Tories.”