GORDON Brown suffered another blow at the hands of voters today as the Conservatives overturned Labour's 5,000-plus majority to snatch Norwich North in a by-election.

Chloe Smith, who at 27 becomes the youngest MP in the Commons, won by 7,348 votes in the first such test of public opinion since the Westminster expenses scandal.

The poll was forced by the resignation of Labour MP Ian Gibson, who claimed almost £80,000 in second home expenses on a London flat which he later sold at a knock-down price to his daughter.

He quit last month after Labour's expenses ``star chamber'' barred him from standing for the party, sparking fury among colleagues and activists who said he was harshly treated by the ``kangaroo court''.

The 45% turnout, while well down on the last general election, is about par for a by-election of this kind.