Local election results ...

I have been looking through the local election results to see what happened yesterday to some of the excellent candidates I have been campaigning with.

South Lakeland DC

I was absolutely delighted to see that Kevin Lancaster won back the Sedbergh and Kirkby Lonsdale ward from the Lib/Dems. Kevin was an excellent advocate for the aera when he previously represented it as a councillor and I'm sure he will do a fine job again. Also pleased to see Caroline Airey re-elected in Mid Furness ward. Congratulations to Kevin, Caroline, and their teams.

Carlisle

All the Conservative seats which were up in Carlisle were successfully defended, and Dalston was a Conservative gain from Independent. Congratulations to Gareth Ellis who held Belah, Mike Mitchelson who held Brampton, Raynor Bloxham who held Longtown & Rockcliffe, Marilyn Bowman who held Stanwix Rurual and Liz Mallinson who held Stanwix Urban, Stephen Higgs in Wetherall and Ann McKerrell who gained Dalston. Commiserations to Christine Finlayson and Nigel Christian on excellent results which were just not quite enough in Yewdale and Belle Vue, and the  other unsucessful candidates.

St Albans

At my former home at the other end of the country, I was delighted to see that Beric Read, a very good friend and colleague who was best man at my wedding, was re-elected in my old ward, Sandridge.

Congratulations to him and to the other successful Conservative candidates in the City and District, Terry Heritage in Harpenden South,  Julian Daly in Harpenden West, Geoff Turner in Harpenden North and Mary Maynard in Harpenden East, to Victoria Mead in Redbourn, to Annie Brwster and Sandra Wood in Wheathampstead, Sue Featherstone and Dave Winstone in St Stephen's ward, Seema Kennedy in Marshalswick South, and Alun Davies in St Peters. Commiserations to Lyn Bolton who put up a good effort in Marshalswick North, Jim Vessey in Cunningham, and the others who didn't quite make it.

Sefton

In Sefton I was pleased to see David Barton hold Dukes ward and Denise Dufton hold Harington. Very disappointed that Jamie Halsall missed gaining Ainsdale by the tiniest of margins, polling 1,159 when the successful Lib/Dem scored 1,187. I know just how you felt, Jamie, I missed out on gaining a seat by 13 votes last year.

Also disappointed by that Sean Dorgan and Gemma Peace didn't manage to hold on in Blundellsands or Ravenmeols, and that excellent candidates Luke Thompson, Martin Barber and Adam Webster didn't get the gains they deserved in Cambridge, Manor, or Meols wards. Commiserations and better luck next year.

One might be very tempted to make a joke about the astonishing fact that 940 people actually voted UKIP in Cambridge ward, Sefton, but perhaps it would be better to avoid the risk that someone might quote it out of context. No serious candidate would want to risk being accused of saying that their political opponents should be executed. Whoever heard of a candidate doing such a thing?

Trafford.

A very good sign for the Conservatives was the successful defence of Trafford MBC. Labour really wanted to take that council, we really wanted to hold it. Congratulations to the Trafford Tories on a great result.

Pendle

And finally, congratulations to Lyle Davy, who at 18 has become Britain's youngest councillor by taking Coates ward from the Lib/Dems.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Nick Herbert on his visit to flood hit areas of Cumbria

Quotes of the day 19th August 2020

Quote of the day 24th July 2020