Ipswich Lib Dems gain two Ipswich seats on night of woe for Labour (Ipswich Liberal Democrats)

Ipswich Liberal Democrats <info@ipswichlibdems.org.uk>

Ipswich Lib Dems gain two Ipswich seats on night of woe for Labour

May 6, 2006 12:59 PM

Ipswich Liberal Democrats have marched on with two more wins and a very close call in Westgate.

In a stunning result Steve Williams was elected in Whitehouse Ward increasing theLib Dem majority from 8 to 213. Steve defeated Labours Albert Grant an ex-mayor and Councillor for 17 years.

In another strong win, Ipswich Lib Dem Party Chairman, Phillip Green took Alexandra Ward despite a fierce Labour smear campaign.

In another closer contest Lib Dem Andrew Cann narrowly failed to take the formerly safe Labour seat of Westgate - losing out by 20 votes. Again Labour resorted to smears rather than fighting a clean campaign. 2007 promises to be a good year in Westgate for the Lib Dems.

Elsewhere long-standing and popular Councillor Inga Lockington increased her majority in St Margarets to 497 with over 50% of the vote.

Robert Chambers also had a strong performance in Holywells pushing Labour firmly into third place after taking the Lib Dem share of the vote from 17% to 31%. Robert achieved a swing of 12% from Labour to the Lib Dems.

Cathy French in Rushmere also increased Lib Dem votes in what is looking like becoming a 3-way marginal. It is noteworthy that Labour threw everything into Rushmere but made no headway.

In St Johns Howard Stanley did well to hold our vote in what proved to be a 4-way tussle with Labour surprisingly holding the seat when a Tory victory was predicted.

Across Ipswich Lib Dems increased out votes whilst Labour votes fell.

It was a poor night for Labour - they lost 5 seats and 4 ex-Mayors! They also lost the first of 3 seats in Sprites to the Conservatives. With this loss and the close result in Westgate and Priory Heath 2007 looks difficult for Labour.

The Conservatives won 3 seats but will be disappointed not to take St Johns or Priory Heath. The Tories may have reached a glass ceiling and be unable to turn their recent success into a majority administration.