Walsh stands by X Factor eviction

Louis Walsh had the casting vote and sent Laura White home

X Factor judge Louis Walsh has insisted he does not regret voting Laura White off Saturday's show, despite a huge wave of support from her fans.

Walsh, 56, had the final say after White and Ruth Lorenzo performed against one another in the sing-off.

He told The Sun newspaper: "No one in the bottom two ever wins the X Factor, that's just a fact. Laura was never going to win."

Nearly 14,000 people signed an online petition to have White reinstated.

Tactical voting

One fan who signed the petition on the website Petition Online, Gemma Eltham, said: "Laura is an amazing singer, get her back in there."

Others have accused Walsh of tactical voting to give his final act JLS a better chance of winning.

Even White's mentor Cheryl Cole suggested that might be the case.

Speaking on ITV2's Xtra Factor on Saturday, she said: "I think it might have been a bit tactical if I'm totally honest with you."

However, Walsh insisted that is not true.

"Laura was in the bottom two. Her performance was bad and her styling was even worse," he said.

"She didn't get the public support and got three votes from the judges.

I was actually quite happy with my performance on Saturday. I can't believe I've gone Laura White (pictured)

White, 21, had been second favourite to win the ITV1 talent show.

Speaking on GMTV on Tuesday, she said: "It's been really tough. I've had such amazing comments for so many weeks from the judges and when that happened I thought 'goodness me where do I go from here?'

"I was actually quite happy with my performance on Saturday. I can't believe I've gone."

Cole thinks viewers at home are voting for contestants who have "sad stories" to tell.

"Do you know what, I've sat at home and done it myself - voted for people I like, people I've felt sorry for on the evening," she said.

Pop star Lily Allen has offered her thoughts on White's eviction.

Andy Burnham on 'the wonderful and talented' Laura White

Writing in her blog, she said: "Right, I think we were all a little shocked right? Laura didn't deserve to go in my opinion , neither did Ruth (my personal favourite).

"I've been left feeling quite upset by the whole of tonight's show."

Former winner Leona Lewis also expressed her dismay at White's departure.

"It was a real shocker this week," she told Radio One.

"I wasn't outraged, screaming at the TV and stuff, but I was surprised."

Even the Culture Secretary, Andy Burnham, had something to say about the show in Parliament.

He said White, who lives in his constituency of Leigh in Greater Manchester, was "wonderful and talented" and the decision to axe her was "very harsh".

Diana Vickers, who missed Saturday's show because of laryngitis is now favourite to win the X Factor, according to bookmakers Ladbrokes.

An ITV spokesman said she saw the doctor on Monday who is "very happy with her progress".

She has been advised to continue resting her voice and will try to rehearse this Saturday's performance from Wednesday.

"Diana will be seeing the doctor again on Friday and will hopefully get the all-clear to perform on Saturday's show," he said.