OUTFOXED! Tories Lose to Lib Dems in Tory Chair's Constituency (Kensington and Chelsea Liberal Democrats)

Kensington and Chelsea Liberal Democrats <info@kensingtonandchelsealibdems.org.uk>

OUTFOXED! Tories Lose to Lib Dems in Tory Chair's Constituency

February 5, 2005 4:40 PM

West of England Tories went down to a double defeat in the latest council by-elections including a loss to Liberal Democrats at North Somerset in the Woodspring constituency of Conservative co-chairman Liam Fox. Liberal Democrat Michael Johnston won with a 12% swing at Portishead Redcliffe Bay, making his party the largest on North Somerset Council.

Labour made its first gain of the year in Walcot ward, Swindon Borough, although there was virtually no swing from when they won the seat in May 2004. Lib Dem Amanda Hopgood stormed home in Newton Hall North ward, Durham, holding the seat with more than two thirds of the vote.

In the fourth contest of the day Lib Dems came within 56 votes of another gain from the Tories, gaining a 5% swing and leapfrogging Labour to take second place in St Michaels ward, Stafford.

This means that in the last two months Lib Dems have gained six council seats from the Tories for just one loss. Overall Lib Dems are up a net seven seats over the same period, while the Tories are down a net five seats.

Jenny Kingsley, Lib Dem parliamentary spokesperson for Kensington & Chelsea commented: "The Liberal Democrats are winning the support of more and more people. The Tory Chairman can't even win elections in his own backyard."