sentences:  With national attention focused on the unpredictable result, none of the independent candidates were able to make an impact, and the National Front vote declined from the previous election.It was a rare example of a governing party gaining an additional seat with a by-election victory.Merton, Mitcham and Morden was the first seat gained in a by-election by an incumbent government since 1960 at the Brighouse and Spenborough by-election.