Lib Dems' Stunning Double By-Election Victories in Norfolk - October 2009
October 1, 2009 11:31 PM
Norfolk Liberal Democrats are celebrating a superb double victory in Wroxham
ward of Broadland District Council and also in Walsingham Ward of North Norfolk
District Council, following two local council by-elections tonight (Thursday).
The by-elections were called following the death of two Independent
councillors: David Teager who represented Wroxham Ward and Tom Moore who
represented Walsingham Ward.
The results will send shockwaves through Norfolk Conservatives, who hoped to
gain both of these seats, with the Lib Dems scoring huge victories in both
wards.
Wroxham ward includes the villages of Wroxham, Belaugh, Salhouse and Rackheath.
Winning Liberal Democrat candidate in Wroxham, Ben McGilvray, said:
"It's a great honour to have been selected by local people to represent the
area on the Council. I'm very grateful for the confidence that people have
shown in me, and I promise to do my very best in return."
"The eco-town and the huge scale of local developments planned in the area has
been a major issue in this election, and I've been very clear on where I stand.
All the signs are that the proposals have not been worked out in a sustainable
way to take into account local circumstances, and I will not support
unsustainable developments in this beautiful area around the Broads.
"People also said they felt it was important to have someone local, who knows
the area and the issues well"
The fact that I live in Wroxham helped enormously, and its because I've grown up here that I will fight with passion for the area."
Hugh Lanham, who was elected for the Lib Dems in Walsingham ward, said:
"I'd like to thank the electorate for the faith shown in me. I'll do my best to
represent local people. Residents raised a huge range of local issues with me
on the doorstep during the campaign, and over the coming weeks and months I'll
be trying hard to get these issues addressed."
The Wroxham Ward result was (with 2007 District Council result and change in
vote share in squared brackets):
Liberal Democrat, Ben McGilvray 960, 62.5% [8.1%, +54.4%]
Conservative, Ian Evans 346, 22.5% [41.4%, -18.9% ]
UKIP, Glenn Tingle 134, 8.7% [0% +8.7%]
Green, Nick Ball 50, 3.3% [7.8%, -4.6% ]
Labour, Malcolm Kemp 46, 3% [3.8%, -0.8% ]
[Independent candidates in 2007, 38.8% -38.8%]
LD Gain from Ind
Turnout 37.8%
NOTE: Wroxham is a two member ward, with both seats last up for election in
2007. As is standard practice, vote shares from last time are taken only for
the highest placed candidate from each party.
Walsingham Ward includes Barsham, Great Snoring, Sculthorpe, Walsingham,
Wighton. It was also last contested in 2007:
Liberal Democrat, Hugh Lanham 389, 58.1% [25.6%, +32.5% ]
Conservative, Tom Fitzpatrick 237, 35.4% [0%, +35.4%]
Labour, Michael Gates 43, 6.4% [0%, +6.4%]
[Independent candidate in 2007, 74.4%, -74.4%]
LD Gain from Ind
Turnout 33.6%
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