The first by-election of 2010 has resulted in a Liberal Democrat gain from the Conservatives in Harrogate.
The result:
Greta Knight 688 62.5% (+4%)
Con 246 22.3% (+7.5%)
BNP 92 8.4% (-4.1%)
Lab 73 6.6% (-7.5%)
Turnout was 26.99%
The by-election was caused by the death of the previous councillor – who had been elected as a Liberal Democrat but subsequently defected to the Conservative Party.
Composition of the council is now Con: 27, LibDem: 21 Ind: 6, so the Tories lose overall control.
Greta said, “All credit must go to those electors who turned out to vote in such appalling conditions and of course to the fantastic team of helpers that worked so hard to make this victory possible. My thanks to each and every one of you – and what a marvellous birthday present for Nick Clegg.”
Congratulations to Councillor Knight and the team!
The photo shows l-r Claire Kelley (LibDem PPC for Harrogate & Knaresborough), Cllr Greta Knight, Cllr Andrew Goss (LibDem, Woodfield). City Cllr Geoff Webber who represents the area on North Yorkshire County Council is to the rear.
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8 Comments
For those keeping score, that’s the fourth consecutive by-election win since September 2008 for the Harrogate team.
They must be doing something right!
Well done to them and the voters in this weather!
Well done Harrogate Lib Dems , after reading only yesterday there was a bi election , anyway today it reminded me of the party conference in Harrogate way back in 1986 I think when the Tories lost control for the 1st time ever, and then they loose Banks as MP , I wish Phil Willis all the best in his comming retirement . thank you and a happy new year to all , … from A J Davies Veliko Turnovo , Bulgaria ex Grove park lane Hgte.
Sorry but that is not a gain from the Tory party.
Look at how people voted last time, and you can see it is a strong LibDem seat.
This vote shows that any one who wins any type of election then joins another party, should have to stand for re-election.
It was a gain from the Tories. The by election was held because of the death of a Conservative councillor who had been elected as a Liberal Democrat. As a result of the by election gain by a Liberal Democrat the Tories have lost control of Harrogate council.
Councillors or MPs are elected, not political parties.
Yes, TimberWolf, but wards have electoral histories and the recent history of that ward appears to be predominantly Liberal Democrat. In my opinion the councillor who defected should have resigned and caused a by-election when he changed parties.
It’s still great news that our vote is up.
I understand that this particular ward has been Lib Dem since creation [of the ward that is; not the six day job by the old chap with a beard in the sky]. So a Lib Dem byelection ‘victory’ isn’t as good news as it might otherwise be …
BUT
in a ward affected by the defection of a sitting councillor to the Conservatives, with all the negativity that creates, a byelection swing of 1.5% from Lib Dem to Tory will be a lot more disappointing for them than it is for us!
Oh, and nice to see the BNP vote halved; and vote share down from 12 to 8%.
just a huge congratulations to greta and the rest of the lib dems,
lets see some posiive changes!!