A resurgent Conservative party stormed to a crushing victory over Labour in the Crewe & Nantwich by-election early today, placing Gordon Brown’s leadership under even greater strain. In a massive boost for David Cameron, the Tories overturned a 7,000 Labour majority to make their first gain from Labour in a by-election for 30 years — with their own 7,860 majority on a massive swing of 17.6 per cent. For the Prime Minister, whose unpopularity was acknowledged as a central factor in the campaign, it was another huge blow after months of uninterrupted gloom.