Conservative lead is slashed in Norwich district’s by-election

Friday, July 15, 2011
5:44 PM

Liberal Democrats and Labour slashed a Conservative majority in Old Catton by almost three quarters in a county council by-election last night.

Old Catton is a traditional stronghold for the Tories and their candidate Judy Leggett did retain the seat with 664 votes and a 40.6pc majority, but that was down 8.3pc from 1,206 in June 2009.

Lib Dems surged into second place with Bob Fowkes taking 414 of the votes, an 11.8pc rise, and there was a similar votes surge for Labour - as Ukip slumped from runner-up last time to fourth.

However the previous contest in June 2009 was on the same day as European Parliament elections in which the arch Euro-sceptic party performed strongly.

The by-election result is a boost for Labour but also an immense relief for Liberal Democrats after hundreds of losses in May’s main council polls.

Lib Dem candidate Bob Fowkes said of the result: “I would like to thank all of my neighbours in Old Catton and West Sprowston for the warm reception I and my team received over the last few weeks.

“I will continue to work on the issues you raised with me, like the state of the bus service we receive from First in the coming weeks.”

A spokesman for the Norwich Labour Party - whose candidate Chrissie Rumsby enjoyed a 12.2pc rise to 377 votes - said: “The 12pc swing to Labour confirmed that people were disillusioned by the failure of both Conservative and Liberal to keep promises made at the election, especially on the NHS.

“A wide range of voters ranging from older people, carers, parents, disabled and young people were worried by the eagerness of the Conservative council to wield the axe on vital services.”

Glenn Tingle ran in the by-election for for Ukip and Jennifer Parkhouse for Green Party.

Result - Con 664, Lib Dem 414, Lab 377, Ukip 107, Green 75.

(June 2009 - Con 1206, Ukip 402, Lib Dem 334, Lab 267, Green 262).

Con hold, swing 10pc Con to Lib Dem.

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9 comments

I wonder how many people decided to change their vote because of the totally undemocratic nature of the Tories on our County Council. It rubs off, you know! Greens don't like incinerators, either.

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highrev

Monday, July 18, 2011
well thank goodness thats over now the candidates can crawl back in the gutter as i do not wish to have another person on my doorstep telling me how good they are for the area also next time i think i will tape up my letterbox as well

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mike11

Sunday, July 17, 2011
Comments such as the one by John Norton demonstrate the pathetic nature of some Labour supporters. This sort of rhetoric should be left in the infant school playground and not form part of the present political scene. I suppose he takes his cue from Milliband who usually [hacking debate apart] can't do anything but criticise and has no real answer to today's economic problems left by New Labour. I am a real old fashioned Labour supporter but at the moment couldn't support the party which was hijacked by Blair, Brown and their cronies and has a long way to go before it reflects its heritage from the labour movement. Trade Union leaders who wallow in luxury whilst calling out their members on strike also give the movement a bad name and need to be culled. There is no political party now that truly represents the working man and I have been reluctantly forced to vote against Labour for a number of years. I don't like the Tories very much as they destroyed the Railway industry for which I worked nearly 40 years, yet they, at the moment, seem the best of a bad bunch. It's a shame that they had to go into a coalition but Cameron's weakness on Europe lost him votes. He also appears to be a weak leader but at least is trying to turn the economy around despite the best efforts of his LibDem partners.

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acenditcantu

Saturday, July 16, 2011
Without any indications as to the percentage of voters and or the strenght of the mandate, these figures do not make any sense. I'm surprised that anybody votes Lib Dem, still, even thought their policy presence is below the water line, non existant. Lib Dems are propping up a Government that has, going by the visists of media types to Chequers, received their main mandate from the tabloids, not us.

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ingo wagenknecht

Saturday, July 16, 2011
As John Norton says, there are people who cannot see past a blue rosette! But they are learning, very slowly, that the best candidate for a local councillor's position is the best candidate, not the one wearing the blue rosette. I wouldn't vote Lib Dem in a million years in a general election but Bob Fowkes was far and away the best candidate in this election. Old Catton will regret not having him this year - but of course this exercise will be rerun when the whole of the County Council stands for elections and they have the opportunity to correct their mistake.

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alecto

Saturday, July 16, 2011
I think it would be fair to say that most residents of Old Catton don't give a fig who represents them as local councillor. The village has been well and truly spoilt now by allowing houses to be built here there and everywhere and really doesn’t exist as a village anymore and is just a part of greater Norwich.

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chucky noris

Saturday, July 16, 2011
Well I suppose you could say that with her 12% swing that Ms Rumsby managed to get 377 people out of bed and bothered.

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Beady

Saturday, July 16, 2011
There are 664 people in Old Catton who would Tory even their candidate was a Donkey as long as it was wearing a blue rosette.

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John L Norton

Friday, July 15, 2011
Benefit culture speaks out,well done!

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Albert Cooper

Friday, July 15, 2011