Helen Duffett

Liberal Democrats hold Kingsbrook, Bedford Borough Council

By | Fri 11th December 2009 - 12:14 am

Newly elected Councillor Andy Gerard
Andy Gerard has been elected the new Councillor for Kingsbrook ward in Bedford. (Pictured above with Councillor Anita Gerard, Bedford Mayor Dave Hodgson and PPC for Bedford and Kempston, Henry Vann.)

The results in full:
Lib Dems 660;
Labour 370;
Con 150;
Ind1 85;
Ind2 73
Turnout: 18.4%

Previous councillors in Kingsbrook ward include Dan Rogerson MP and the Mayor of Bedford, Dave Hodgson.

Henry Vann, PPC for Bedford and Kempston said,

Two government ministers visited during the campaign – including their “election guru” Douglas Alexander. This is an abysmal result for Labour and technically the first electoral test of the pre-budget report.

The result can hardly be a consolation to the Tories either. They were rejected by voters, and saw their vote slashed to just 150 across the ward.

It is quite clear that voters recognise a hard-working candidate, and Andy Gerard will make a great campaigner for Kingsbrook.

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This entry was posted in Council by-elections.
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6 Comments

  • felix holt 11th Dec '09 - 1:56am

    Hurrah – and winning in west devon too I believe!!

  • John 11th Dec '09 - 8:16am

    Correct, Felix.

    There have been four byelections in the Torridge & West Devon constituency since the 2007 election. Lib Dems have now gained three of them (two from Tories and one from Independent) , and narrowly missed holding the other one (which was taken by a well-established Independent).

    Congratulations to the team in Bedford.

  • Mark Fitzpatrick 13th Dec '09 - 2:26pm

    Note the Labour MP in the background on the photo: Patrick Hal. Perhaps he is wondering how they got just 27% in a seat where they had a councillor until June.

    Incidentally Andy got 661 votes, not 660.

  • Mark Fitzpatrick 13th Dec '09 - 2:27pm

    Apologies. It is Patrick Hall, not Hal.

  • Sam Goodby 14th Dec '09 - 2:16pm

    Yeah, a great result… a 10% swing to Labour on a 18% turnout. And great for the local residents who have suffered from nothing being done in their area. It’s been Lib-Dem for over a decade and the area suffers problems that are not dealt with. I doubt they will be helped with a Councillor who despite claiming to be ‘local’ lives in Kempston.

One Trackback

  • By By-election roundup for 10 December 2009 on Fri 11th December 2009 at 11:45 am.

    […] Bedford Borough Council, Kingsbrook Lib Dem hold. LD Andy Gerard 660 Lab 370 Con 150 Turnout 18.4% More here. […]

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