Another LibDem Surge in Redbridge
Posted by jonathanfryer on Friday, 24th April, 2009
The Liberal Democrats came a very strong second to the Conservatives in yesterday’s council by-election in the Wanstead ward of Redbridge borough in greater London, even though the party has not traditionally been very active in the area. The LibDem candidate, Kate Garrett, lives in the ward, worked extremely hard and would have made a fine councillor. Next time, one hopes! Although the Tories held onto the seat, they are tearing themselves apart locally. There is an effective civil war within the Redbridge Conservative council group and to add to their woes, one of their councillors has just been arrested for alleged fraud. Conversely, the result of yesterday’s byelection is very good news for Leyton and Wanstead LibDems, in their campaign to win the currently Labour parliamentary seat (most of which is in the borough of Waltham Forest, where the LibDems have been advancing steadily) at the next general election.
Result in full: Conservative 1300, Liberal Democrat (Kate Garrett) 1030, Labour 694, Green 256, BNP 171, UKIP 33. Majority 270. Turnout 40.7%
Morris Hickey said
Try getting your facts right. The councillor’s arrest took place in 2008, but was leaked recently to the press. Quite recently the Crown Prosecution Service has decided to take no action on the allegations made against him.