By-Election Result is Boost for the Lib Dems

6.21.56pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sun 13th Jun 2004

The Bensham Manor by-election has given a big boost to the Liberal Democrats in the north of Croydon.

Whilst Labour were re-elected in one of their safest seats in the borough, there was a massive drop in their vote and a large increase in the Liberal Democrat vote.

Ejnar Sorensen secured 15% of the vote, and was 50 votes away from pushing the Conservatives into 3rd place. The Labour vote dropped by 21%, whilst the Conservative vote dropped by 6%. The Conservatives also received their lowest number of votes in the ward since 1996.

"This is a very positive result for the Liberal Democrats. It clearly shows that the Liberal Democrats are on the up in the north of Croydon whilst the Conservatives are going nowhere," said Ejnar Sorensen.

Notes:

Change in the number of votes for each party in Bensham Manor between 2002 Local Elections and 2004 By-election:

Labour - Down 21%

Conservative - Down 6%

Liberal Democrat - Up 15%