Ashdown: By-election 'wasn't a good night'

Former Liberal Democrat leader Lord Ashdown has said that the by-election result in Barnsley Central, which saw the Lib Dem candidate lose his deposit, was "obviously" not a good night for the party.

But speaking to Today presenter Sarah Montague, he said that journalists and opposition politicians "need to keep a sense of proportion".

"I can never remember a by-election... where the victor didn't say there was a message for the government," he said.