Category Archives: Council by-elections

Helen Duffett

Council by-election results: 28 July 2011

By Helen Duffett | Fri 29th July 2011 - 4:23 pm

Enfield LBC, Bush Hill Park
Con 1108 (44.5; +6.1)
Lab 668 (26.8; +2.0)
Ind 230 (9.2; +9.2)
LD Paul David Smith 177 (7.1; -12.3)
Green 100 (4.0; -6.5)
UKIP 70 (2.8; -4.1)
BNP 61 (2.5; +2.5)
Christian Party “Proclaiming Christ’s Lordship” 45 (1.8; +1.8)
The English Democrats – “Putting England First!” 29 (1.2; +1.2)
Majority 440
Turnout 23.83%
Con hold
Percentage change is since May 2010.

Blackburn with Darwen UA, Beardwood with Lammack
Con 1097 (63.8; +3.4)
Lab 572 (33.3; +0.1)
LD Salim Lorgat 51 (3.0; -3.5)
Majority 525
Turnout not known
Con hold
Percentage change is since May 2011.

Harrow LBC, Stanmore Park
Con 1395 (58.1; -0.4)
Labour 509 (21.2; +0.7)
Independent 299 (12.4; +12.4)
LD Sylvia Warshaw 98 (4.1; -9.4)
Green 53 (2.2; -5.3)
UKIP 48 …

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Helen Duffett

Council by-election results: 21 July 2011

By Helen Duffett | Fri 22nd July 2011 - 6:48 pm

Wokingham UA, Remenham, Wargrave and Ruscombe
Con 850 (65.9; +0.6)
LD Martin Alder 272 (21.1; -7.1)
UKIP 55 (4.3; +4.3)
Lab 94 (7.3; +0.7)
Green 19 (1.5; +1.5)
Majority 578
Turnout 29.38%
Con hold
Percentage change is since May 2010.

Gwynedd UA, Glyder
Plaid Cymru 207 (39.4; -25.1)
LD Doug Madge 194 (36.9; +1.3)
Con 65 (12.4; +12.4)
Lab 60 (11.4; +11.4)
Majority 13
Turnout not known
Plaid Cymru hold
Percentage change is since May 2008.

Truro City Council, Boscawen
Con 469 (40.7)
LD Kate Tregunna 322 (28.0)
Lab 246 (21.4)
Mebyon Kernow 114 (9.9)
Majority 147
Turnout 24.59%
Con gain from LD.

Full by-election info and commentary at the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors.

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Helen Duffett

Council by-election result: 14 July 2011

By Helen Duffett | Fri 15th July 2011 - 3:48 pm

Norfolk CC, Old Catton
Con 664 (40.6; -8.2)
LD Bob Fowkes 414 (25.3; +11.8)
Lab 377 (23.0; +12.2)
UKIP 107 (6.5; -9.7)
Green 75 (4.6; -6.0)
Majority 250
Turnout 25.7%
Con hold
Percentage change is since June 2009.

Full by-election info and commentary at the Association of Liberal Democrat Councillors.

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Helen Duffett

Council by-election results: 7 July 2011

By Helen Duffett | Fri 8th July 2011 - 2:26 pm

Derbyshire CC, Sawley
Lab 1351 (41.7; +30.9)
Con 1197 (36.9; +12.8)
LD Fiona Aanonson 692 (21.4; +10.7)

Majority 154
Turnout 30.56%
Lab gain from Ind
Percentage change is since June 2009.

Wakefield MBC, Horbury and South Ossett
Lab 1776 (51.5; +2.4)
Con 1061 (30.8; -10.6)
UKIP 232 (6.7; +6.7)
LD Mark Goodair 200 (5.8; -3.8)
Horbury Independent 93 (2.7; +2.7)
Ind 88 (2.6; +2.6)
Majority 715
Turnout 28.6%
Lab gain from Con
Percentage change is since May 2010.

Purbeck DC, Lytchett Matravers
Con 669 (52.8; +5.4)
LD John Brian Taylor 599 (47.2; -5.4)
Majority 70
Turnout 41.8%
Con gain from LD
Percentage change is since May 2010.

Southwark LBC, Peckham
Lab 1754 (70.1; +7.7)
LD Jennifer Blake 554 (22.1; +4.4)
Con 86 (3.4; -5.1)
Trade Unionists and Socialists …

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Helen Duffett

Labour holds Inverclyde with reduced majority

By Helen Duffett | Fri 1st July 2011 - 6:32 am

From the BBC:

Labour has won the Inverclyde by-election for the UK parliament but its majority has been more than halved.

Iain McKenzie took the Westminster seat with 15,118 votes over the SNP’s Anne McLaughlin on 9,280. Labour’s majority fell from 14,416 at the 2010 general election to 5,838.

The Conservatives took third place with 2,784, the Liberal Democrats polled 627 votes and UKIP was fifth with 288.

The by-election was held after the death of David Cairns in May, aged 44.

Read the full story here.

In local council by-election news:

Wandsworth LBC, Thamesfield:
Con 1497;
Lab 1022;
LD Lisa Smart 545;
Green 202.
Con HOLD.
Turnout 28.1%

Broxbourne BC, …

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Helen Duffett

Council by-election results: 9 June 2011

By Helen Duffett | Sat 11th June 2011 - 11:16 am

There were five council by-elections this week: four of them resulted in holds, while the Lib Dems lost Chelmsford Central to the Conservatives.

From ALDC:

Highland UA, Tain and Easter Ross
The votes below are the First Preference votes. An Independent was elected at the fourth stage.
Ind 1204 (37.6; +1.3)
SNP 1037 (32.4; +20.4)
Ind 547 (17.6; +6.4)
LD Antony Gardner 318 (9.9; -6.2)
Ind 97 (3.0; -14.3)

Turnout 36.4%
Ind hold
Percentage change is since May 2007.
http://www.highland.gov.uk/yourcouncil/elections/highlandcouncilelections/byelection-ward8/ward8-results.htm

Essex CC, Chelmsford Central
Con 1496 (43.6; +10.0)
LD Graham Howard John Pooley 1323 (38.6; -5.9)
Lab 610 (17.8; +10.1)

Majority 173
Turnout 29%
Con gain from LD
Percentage change is since June 2009.

Kensington and Chelsea

…

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5 Comments
Helen Duffett

Liberal Democrat candidate dies on polling day

By Helen Duffett | Fri 6th May 2011 - 10:18 am

The Newcastle Journal has the sad news:

The Liberal Democrat candidate for Westerhope, Neil Hamilton, died this afternoon after spending the day campaigning.

Police were called to his house after no-one could contact him. Mr Hamilton, thought to be in his early 60s, was a junior cricket coach.

Under council rules, if a candidate dies during an election, and before all votes are cast, the election is null and void and a by-election must be held.

Our condolences to Mr Hamilton’s family, and to the local party in Newcastle.

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Helen Duffett

This week’s by-election results: Lewisham and Torfaen

By Helen Duffett | Fri 25th March 2011 - 2:51 pm

Yesterday, Labour held a seat in the London Borough of Lewisham and gained one from the Independent in Pontypool, Torfaen.

Lewisham LBC, Bellingham

Lab 1100 (51.4; +8.3)
Con 340 (15.9; -3.1)
LD Jenni Steele 334 (15.6; -11.1)
Others (12.3; +6.6) Socialist Alternative – Lewisham People Before Profit 264
Green 100 (4.7; -0.8)
Majority 760
Turnout 22%
Lab hold
Percentage change is since May 2010.
(In May 2010 “Others” was an Independent who got 5.8% of the vote)

Torfaen UA, Pontypool

Lab 178 (30.9; +0.3)
Others (57.3; -12.1) Ind 161, Ind 80, Ind 46, Ind 25, Ind 12
PC 50 (8.7; +8.7)
Con 18 (3.1; +3.1)
Majority 17
Turnout 39.5%
Lab gain from Ind
Percentage change is since May 2008.

See the …

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Helen Duffett

Delighted of Tunbridge Wells: Lib Dems gain from Tories in by-election

By Helen Duffett | Fri 18th March 2011 - 1:45 pm

The Liberal Democrats have gained a seat from the Conservatives on Tunbridge Wells Borough Council in yesterday’s Pembridge by-election, with a swing of more than 13%.

The result in full:

LD Claire Brown 578 (43.3; +2.7)
Con 460 (34.5; -24.9)
UKIP 296 (22.2; +22.2)
Majority 118
Turnout 35.41%
LD gain from Con
Percentage change is since May 2010.

New Liberal Democrat councillor Claire Brown said,

I am delighted and honoured to win this seat in Pembury and serve the village. I am a local mother of three young children who runs my own business. We fought an excellent campaign against the Tories who put up a candidate from outside the

…

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Helen Duffett

This week’s by-election results: Burnley and Southwark

By Helen Duffett | Fri 11th March 2011 - 2:22 pm

Yesterday, Labour gained a seat from the Lib Dems in Burnley and held a seat in the London Borough of Southwark.

Burnley BC, Rosegrove with Lowerhouse:

Lab 521 (43.1; +11.8)
BNP 288 (23.8; +5.5)
LD Kate Mottershead 261 (21.6; -11.8)
Con 81 (6.7; -10.2)
Ind 58 (4.8; +4.8)
Majority 233
Turnout 25%
Lab gain from LD
Percentage change is since May 2010

Southwark LBC, Brunswick Park:

Lab 1981 (65.1; +13.3)
LD Kate Heywood 630 (20.7; -2.0)
Green 231 (7.6; -6.9)
Con 129 (4.2; -6.7)
Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition 70 (2.3; +2.3)
Majority 1351
Turnout 34.2%
Lab hold
Percentage change is since May 2010

See the ALDC website for full by-election results and commentary.

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The Voice

Lib Dems gain a seat from the Tories in Shropshire

By The Voice | Fri 18th February 2011 - 7:15 pm

New Shropshire Councillor Andrew Bannerrman
Photo also available on Flickr here.

From the Independent:

Liberal Democrats celebrated a gain in the latest council by-elections from Tories who, however, defended two other marginal seats and control of South Cambridgeshire District.

Andrew Bannerman triumphed for Lib Dems at Quarry and Coton Hill, Shropshire despite a strong intervention by Labour which did not fight last time.

The result in Quarry and Coton Hill:

LD Andrew Bannerman 356 (41.8; +5.7)
Con 268 (31.5; -12.1)
Lab 197 (23.1; +23.1)
Ind 30 (3.5; -2.3)

Majority 88
Turnout 30.47%
LD …

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Helen Duffett

Lib Dems HOLD Oliver’s Battery and Badger Farm, Winchester

By Helen Duffett | Thu 27th January 2011 - 11:51 pm

Congratulations to Cllr Brian Laming

Photo: New Councillor Brian Laming and team. Also available on Flickr here.

The Liberal Democrats have won today’s by-election at Oliver’s Battery and Badger Farm, Winchester City Council.

LD Brian Laming 894 (53.9%)
Conservative 604 (36.4%)
Labour 161 (9.8%)
Turnout 51.1%
LD hold.

Councillor Brian Laming commented:

This is a real honour and a tribute to the local Lib Dem team and their work over the years. I’m also really grateful to the hard work from the whole Winchester team across the last few

…

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Helen Duffett

Lib Dems GAIN Marl, Conwy (and other by-election results from Jan 20)

By Helen Duffett | Fri 21st January 2011 - 4:18 pm

Marl councillors Mike Priestley and Sue Shotter
Photo: Marl Councillors Mike Priestley and Sue Shotter. Also available on Flickr.

Liberal Democrat Sue Shotter gained Marl in Conwy from the Conservatives last night:

LD Sue Shotter 389 (40.4; -10.1)
Con 270 (28.1; +5.7)
Lab 216 (22.5; +14.2)
Ind 87 (9.0; -9.7)
Majority 119
Turnout 31.3%
LD gain from Con
Percentage change is since May 2008

New councillor Sue Shotter said:

This result was achieved through a combination of Mike’s hard work over the years building up the Lib Dem vote, teamwork,

…

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Helen Duffett

This week’s by-election results: holds all round

By Helen Duffett | Fri 29th October 2010 - 4:50 pm

Camden LBC, Kentish Town
Lab 1411 (53.0; +17.7)
LD Nick Russell 715 (26.9; -3.6)
Green 349 (13.1; -4.7)
Con 186 (7.0; -5.1)

Majority 696
Turnout 26.02%
Lab HOLD
Percentage change is since May 2010

South Lanarkshire UA, East Kilbride West
Lab 847 (41.4; +0.8)
SNP 571 (27.9; -2.4)
Con 403 (19.7; +5.7)
Green 82 (4.0; +0.2)
East Kilbride Alliance 71 (3.5; -0.7)
LD Gordon Smith 70 (3.4; -3.7)
Turnout 17.44%
Labour HOLD
Percentage change is since May 2007

See here for the breakdown of votes for each stage of the count.

Cheltenham BC, Springbank
LD Chris Coleman 722 (66.4; -2.9)
Con 188 (17.3; -13.4)
Lab 142 (13.1; +13.1)
Green 35 (3.2; +3.2)
Majority 534
Turnout not known
LD HOLD
Percentage change is since May 2010

See the …

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Helen Duffett

Lib Dems GAIN Ipplepen, Teignbridge from Conservatives

By Helen Duffett | Fri 24th September 2010 - 2:53 pm

Alistair Dewhirst gains Ipplepen from the Conservatives

Congratulations to new Liberal Democrat councillor Alistair Dewhirst at Ipplepen, Teignbridge District Council.

The Liberal Democrats gained the seat with a massive 34% swing from the Tories following the death of the previous councillor.

Turnout was up too, and high for a council by-election: 58.7% compared with 52% in the main elections in 2007.

Central Devon Liberal Democrats are also reporting an increase in party membership.

The result:

Lib Dem Alistair Dewhirst …

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Iain Roberts

By-elections have projected Lib Dem vote at 25%

By Iain Roberts | Fri 17th September 2010 - 12:42 pm

The Local Government Chronicle has today published research on how the Lib Dems (and others) have fared in local by-elections since May.

It’s useful to note as there’s been some disagreement. Lib Dems have been pointing to victories and holds as evidence that, where the party campaigns, its vote is holding up very well. Opponents have disagreed (not least in comments on this site) and suggested evidence is being cherry-picked and the Lib Dems vote is actually falling.

Here’s what the research says (as reported by Paul Waugh in the Evening Standard since the LGC site …

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Helen Duffett

Abingdon Northcourt victory: hat-trick for OxWAb Lib Dems‏

By Helen Duffett | Fri 17th September 2010 - 12:30 am

Helen Pighills (centre) wins Northcourt by-election, Abingdon

Oxford West & Abingdon Lib Dems are celebrating their third local by-election victory in a row since the General Election.

Helen Pighills held Northcourt Ward on Abingdon Town Council with an increased majority over the Conservatives.

This means that the Lib Dems retain all 21 seats on the Council.

Helen Pighills said:

I look forward to joining the hard-working and effective team of Lib Dems who are doing such a good job running Abingdon Town Council.

…

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Iain Roberts

A good night for Labour in Norwich

By Iain Roberts | Fri 10th September 2010 - 2:50 pm

Labour were the party with most to be happy about after the 13 Norwich by-elections (or delayed elections) that took place yesterday.

The Lib Dems lost one of their two seats to Labour, with the Conservatives losing both of theirs. The Greens, who had hoped for a breakthrough, held five seats but failed to make any gains.

The Lib Dems held Eaton ward with an increased share of the vote.

Compared to the last time the seats were fought in 2008:

Labour finished up three on seven seats
The Greens won five seats, the same as in 2008
The Lib Dems were down one …

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Helen Duffett

Lib Dem GAIN from Tories in Castle ward, Alnwick Town Council

By Helen Duffett | Thu 2nd September 2010 - 11:37 pm

Lib Dems GAIN Castle ward, Alnwick TC

Congratulations to Councillor Sara Walton, elected today for Castle ward on Alnwick Town Council, following the resignation of the Conservative councillor through ill health.

The result:

LD Sara Walton 329;
Con 238;
Lab 94

Turnout 24.4%.
LD GAIN from Con.

New councillor Sara Walton said,

It’s very humbling that so many people have put their trust in me. I’m determined to bring a fresh perspective to the Town Council and hope my experience as a solicitor and school governor will be put to

…

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Iain Roberts

Sheffield slaughter? Not this week

By Iain Roberts | Fri 27th August 2010 - 7:10 am

Labour pundits were eagerly predicting the Lib Dems would be slaughtered in a Sheffield local by-election yesterday, and would simply be hoping to avoid coming last.  The reality was a little different.

Labour comfortably held on to their safe Woodhouse seat, with both them and UKIP taking votes from the Conservatives, who were pushed into fourth place, just a few votes ahead of the BNP.

The Lib Dems came a clear second place, with the party’s vote down just 0.5% on the May result, and well up on every other election in the last few years, as Labour struggled to …

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Helen Duffett

Lib Dem GAIN from Tories in Aldbury and Wigginton, Dacorum BC

By Helen Duffett | Thu 26th August 2010 - 11:55 pm

Lib Dem GAIN from Tories in Aldbury and Wigginton, Dacorum BC
Congratulations to Aldbury and Wigginton Liberal Democrats, where Rosemarie Hollinghurst has gained a seat from the Conservatives on Dacorum Borough Council.

The result:

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Helen Duffett

Councillor for 13 days: Medway Tory resigns

By Helen Duffett | Wed 25th August 2010 - 6:43 pm

Conservative councillor David Craggs has resigned today, less than a fortnight after winning the by-election in River Ward, Medway.

Kent News reports:

The Gad’s Hill headteacher stood down from his position earlier today.

Yourmedway approached Mr Craggs for a comment and was told that a full statement detailing the reasons behind his resignation would be released later this afternoon.

However, we are led to believe that Mr Craggs was told he must choose between serving as a special constable, a position he has held for 17 years, and a Medway councillor.

Conservative Craggs gained the seat from Labour in the by-election on 12 …

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Sara Bedford

Lib Dem wins council seat whilst on his honeymoon!

By Sara Bedford | Fri 20th August 2010 - 12:45 am

An interesting mix of results in this week’s by-elections. In the first result of the evening, the Liberal Democrats comfortably held North ward of Seaford  Town Council, which is in Lewes constituency.

LD Nick Norman: 407
Con: 319
Lab: 137
Ind: 74
BNP: 20
The turnout was 23.7%.

The new councillor is currently away on his honeymoon, with new wife Naomi.

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Simon Wright MP

13 Norwich by-elections on one day – can you help?

By Simon Wright MP | Mon 16th August 2010 - 11:20 am

In just one month voters in Norwich will be going to the polls again

Here in Norwich, we’re fighting not 1, not 2, not even 10 council by-elections this summer. We’ve got 13.

We won Norwich South at the General Election by just 310 votes. These elections are set to be just as close. Many people came to help us in May, and we’re appealing for even more people to come and help us now. We’re especially looking for people to make a few phone calls from home.

Back in December, following a drawn-out and bitter process that split political parties …

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The Voice

By-election news: Conservative gain in Medway

By The Voice | Sat 14th August 2010 - 5:56 pm

Only the one by-election this week, a gain for the Conservatives:

Conservative 617 (44.6; +5.6)
Labour 544 (39.4; -0.7)
LibDem (Garry Harrison) 104 (7.5; -0.6)
Green 45 (3.3; +3.3)
BNP 39 (2.8; +2.8)
English Democrats 33 (2.4; n/a)
Majority 73
Turnout 25.3%
Con gain from Lab

(There were two parties standing last time who didn’t stand this time.)

2 Comments
Helen Duffett

By-election news: Conservatives hold Sitwell, Rotherham

By Helen Duffett | Fri 6th August 2010 - 3:35 pm

Just one by-election this week, in Sitwell ward on Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, following the death of Conservative Councillor Michael Clarke.

The Conservatives held the marginal seat, although the council remains under Labour control.

The Liberal Democrat candidate Abdul Razaq came fifth (possibly as a consequence of the Liberal Democrats not putting up a candidate in May, so the party’s support may have ebbed away to Labour?)

The result was as follows:

Con 1213
Lab 864
Independent 252
UKIP 241
LD Abdul Razaq 98

The turnout was 28.22%.

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Helen Duffett

By-election results: Victory in Torbay and holds everywhere else

By Helen Duffett | Fri 23rd July 2010 - 4:40 pm

Cause for celebration this week with a good set of by-election results:

Liberal Democrat Andrew Baldrey won St Mary’s with Summercombe (Torbay UA) from the Conservatives with a huge swing:

LD Andrew Baldrey 801 (52.7%;+16.4)
Con 365 (24.0%;-23.9)
Lab 195 (12.8%;+12.8)
UKIP 159 (10.5%;+10.5)
Turnout 26.2%
Percentage change is since May 2007

Elsewhere, the Liberal Democrats held all the seats that we were defending: the principal elections were Kidlington North on Cherwell District Council; Nethermayne on Basildon District Council (the seat previously held by Ben Williams who stood down to become a special advisor to the Government’s deputy chief whip) and Thatcham South and …

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Helen Duffett

Lib Dem by-election winner “angry” at Exeter unitary ruling

By Helen Duffett | Mon 12th July 2010 - 4:45 pm

It was recently announced that 26 councillors in Exeter and Norwich have lost their seats following a High Court decision over unitary status.

As the BBC reported:

Mr Justice Ouseley last month quashed a Labour government decision to allow the cities to take over county council powers and now members must stand down.

Each council lost 13 councillors and was ordered to pay legal costs.

The 26 councillors were due to stand for re-election in May but had been granted extensions in office as part of provisional arrangements for unitary status.

The judge has now ruled the by-elections must take place to maintain legality.

Leader of Exeter Council, Adrian Fullam (Liberal Democrat) said:

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Helen Duffett

By-election news: two Lib Dem gains, one loss, Yeovil hold

By Helen Duffett | Fri 2nd July 2010 - 1:40 pm

Shropshire Lib Dem team celebratesLocal farmer Richard Huffer, last night won Clee Division of Shropshire County Council from the Conservatives taking over 60% of the vote. Speaking after the count, Richard said “I’m extremely grateful for the confidence that local electors have shown in me. The scale of the victory is quite humbling. Now the work really starts – our area has suffered from neglect and poor representation for too long!”

Parliamentary Candidate Heather Kidd, who was agent in the by-election said,

Richard will make an excellent councillor.

…

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Helen Duffett

By-election results 3 June 2010: four cheers for the Lib Dems

By Helen Duffett | Fri 4th June 2010 - 7:50 am

Liberal Democrats are celebrating four by-election wins this week (two gains, two holds) in Newquay, South Oxfordshire and St Albans.

Cllr Dave Sleeman wins in Gannel ward, Newquay TC

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