Candidates take to Twitter in last-minute push for votes

ROTHERHAM by-election candidates — including a clergyman — were praying for victory today as the polls opened.

Eleven candidates are facing off for the right to replace Denis MacShane, with Labour’s Sarah Champion the odds-on favourite.

Herringthorpe vicar Rev Simon Copley offered a last-minute rallying cry this morning, tweeting: “No more campaigning — just praying for people of #Rotherham, that right choice is made. Heartfelt thanks for all support and fun debate.”

Ms Champion said: “Polls are now open in the #Rotherham by-election.

“To stand up for Rotherham I need your support today by voting #Labour.”

Conservative rival Simon Wilson appealed for support, saying: “To give #Rotherham the future it so desperately needs vote #Conservative vote Simon Wilson”, while Respect’s Yvonne Ridley tweeted: “Thanx 2 all well wishers. The power in #Rotherham now lies where it belongs ... With the people who deserve #respect no matter how they vote.”

Meanwhile, self-styled "Free MP" Paul Dickson said: "To the people of Rotherham, do not treat this polling day as another dog day afternoon. Do not wearily trudge down to the polling station and put your ‘X’ in the same box as always just because that’s what you’ve always done for the last 10, 20, or 30 years. If you want change then you need to change your vote."

Ms Champion’s rivals are bidding to overturn a Labour majority of more than 10,000.

The polls close at 10pm and we will have reports and reaction from the count at Magna tonight.

Turn-out is expected to be lower than at the last General Election when it was 59%.

Rotherham Constituency General Election result May 2010:

MACSHANE, Denis Labour Party 16741

WHITELEY, Jacqueline Conservative Party 6279

TAYLOR, Rebecca Elisabeth Liberal Democrats 5994

GUEST, Marlene British National Party 3906

THIRLWALL, Peter Independent 2366

VINES, Caven UK Independence Party (UKIP) 2220

Electorate: 63563. Turnout: 59.16 oer cent.

The full list of 11 candidates standing in the by-election is:

Simon Wilson (Conservative).

Michael Beckett (Liberal-Democrat).

Jane Collins (UKIP).

Sarah Champion (Labour).

Yvonne Ridley (Respect).

Ralph Dyson (Trades Unionists and Socialists Against Cuts).

David Wildgoose (English Democrats).

Marlene Guest ( British National Party).

Clint Bristow (Independent).

The Rev Simon Copley (Independent).

Paul Dickson (Independent).