The Croydon North and Middlesbrough polls were triggered by the deaths of MPs Malcolm Wicks and Sir Stuart Bell.

BBC: By-elections: Labour retains three seats

Veteran Labour MP Sir Stuart Bell accused Tories in the government of "falling back" to their stance in the 1980s.

BBC: Budget 2011: Tyrie backs public spending cuts

John Walsh's Tory Boy documentary has since landed award nominations, but again its central premise was firmly rejected by Stuart Bell.

BBC: Middlesbrough MP Sir Stuart Bell fights laziest MP tag