Lib Dems Win as Labour Falter in Manchester

12.45.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 8th Dec 2006

New Gorton South Lib Dem Councillor, Charles Glover - at your service!

Manchester Liberal Democrats are celebrating victory in the crucial Gorton South by-election held on Thursday 19th October 2006. Candidate Charles Glover secured an increased majority, of nearly 400 ahead of Labour, to become the area's new councillor.

The by-election was the first significant test of Labour's popularity in Manchester following their recent party conference in the city.

This result is also an utter disaster for David Cameron's Conservatives, whose candidate polled a paltry 90 votes. At less than 3% of the vote, the Tories lost more than half of the votes they got last time.

The full result of the by election, caused by the death of Manchester's Lord Mayor Cllr James Ashley, was as follows:

Charles Glover (Lib Dem) 1,588 (49.3%)

Labour 1,208 (37.5%)

BNP 185 (5.7%)

Green 151 (4.7%)

Conservative 90 (2.8%)

New Liberal Democrat Councillor Charles Glover said:

"This is a great victory for positive Liberal Democrat action to tackle important local issues such as crime, litter and graffiti. Voters in Gorton have backed my campaign to reverse Labour's cuts in police numbers locally."

James Ashley's son Councillor Simon Ashley, who is Manchester Liberal Democrat Leader and also a Gorton South councillor, said:

"This spectacular win today shows that local voters have rejected Labour's highly personalised and negative campaign. Charles will make a first-class hardworking councillor for Gorton. My dad would be proud of what we have achieved tonight."

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