17% swing to Lib Dems in by-election (Darlington and Sedgefield Liberal Democrats)

Darlington and Sedgefield Liberal Democrats <joe.kelley@darlingtonlibdems.org.uk>

17% swing to Lib Dems in by-election

March 4, 2006 6:00 PM

There was a big swing to the Liberal Democrats in the College Ward by-election. The Conservatives managed to hold on to what was one of their safest seats in the Borough, though their majority was slashed to just 113 votes.

The result:

Conservatives 624 (47%; -10%);

Liberal Democrats 511 (39%; +17%)

Labour 175 (13%; -8%)

Turnout 43%

The big swing from Conservative to Liberal Democrat in the ward represented by the Leader of the Conservative Group on Darlington Borough Council shows that three-party politics is alive and well in Darlington. The so-called 'Cameron factor' had no effect here, with Lib Dem candidate Garry Hinton nearly taking a seat the Conservatives normally expect to win easily.

The poor showing by the Labour candidate shows yet again the unpopularity of the Labour Council, which is surely destined to lose power in next year's local elections.

The debacle of the town centre redevelopment and their failure to cope with traffic and parking problems in the ward were mentioned throughout by voters on the doorstep. The arrogance of the Labour Council and their refusal to take account of voters' concerns were reflected in the poor vote achieved by their candidate.