LIB DEMS ROMP TO VICTORY IN STUNNING BY-ELECTION RESULT

Liberal Democrat, Trevor Fisher romped home in a shock result in the Bentswood by-election. He overturned a Labour majority of over 200 to win a majority of 46, pushing Labour into third place.

Turnout was up 50% - at the level of a full council election - which all parties claimed as a victory for democracy.

With local Tory MP Nicholas Soames in the audience, Trevor Fisher said:

"This is a good result for the people of Bentswood who have had to suffer Labour councillors for years. Councillors who have not dealt with local issues like the lack of facilities for our young people or paths that are a hazard for anyone with a buggy, a wheelchair or who is just not very nippy on their pins. These things matter. They matter day in and day out to those affected by them.

My promise to the people of Bentswood as their new Lib Dem councillor is to work tirelessly to help get those things sorted out.

It is also a good result for the Liberal Democrats. It shows that Labour cannot win here. It is the first step to Lib Dem control of Mid Sussex District Council next year and a Lib Dem MP at the next General Election."

Serena Tierney, Local Lib Dem Parliamentary Spokesman said:

" This is not only a reflection of the hard work that Trevor and his team have put in but is also a damning indictment of the antics of the Labour and Tory parties in Westminster. As with the Con/Lab coalition on Haywards Heath Town Council, the Labour government is now reliant on Tory votes to get its controversial Education Bill through the Commons."

NOTES :

Result:

Turnout 37%

Trevor Fisher (LD) 550

John de Mierre (Con) 506

Sadie Swaine (Lab) 371.

Composition of new Town Council

Conservative 7

Labour 3

Liberal Democrat 6