No 'Cameron Effect' in Kennington and South Hinksey - Tories Crash to Yet Another By-election Defeat

2.36.49pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 7th Apr 2006

Liberal Democrats are celebrating the election of Bernard Auton to the Vale in the Kennington & South Hinsey by-election. Bernard's election takes the Liberal Democrats' representation on the Vale to 30 members out of 51. His victory means that the Tories have not taken a seat in a by-election in the Vale in over ten years!

The by-election was called following the death of Councillor Sylvia Patterson in January. The turnout was an impressive 39.6% and the votes for each candidate were:

Bernard AUTON Liberal Democrat 771

Gareth JENNINGS Conservative 577

The vote for the Liberal Democrats was up 6% on the County Council elections in 2005, giving the party a winning margin of 14% over the defeated candidate.

Cllr Jerry Patterson said: "This is another impressive win for the Lib Dems in the Vale after 11 years in control. The circumstances of this by-election were especially sad for me but we fought a very professional campaign and we have reaped the reward. Bernard will make an excellent councillor and I look forward to welcoming him to the Vale.

"As for the opposition, it seems the brief honeymoon following the election of their new national leader has delivered little in the way of additional support. The problem may be that, as in this election, they seem willing to say anything to get themselves elected but in consequence, residents don't know what they really stand for anymore."

Newly elected councillor Bernard Auton said: "I'm delighted to have won this by-election, although I would rather it was under different circumstances. I've got a hard act to follow in Sylvia Patterson, who was an effective and popular councillor for over 6 years. My job now is to join Jerry in representing the residents of South Hinksey, Hinksey Hill and all of Kennington effectively by delivering the successful administration and sound finances the Lib Dems have achieved over the past 11 years.