Lib Dems sweep to victory in Clementswood Redbridge by election

12.00.00am GMT Fri 10th Nov 2006

Redbridge Liberal Democrats are celebrating a sweeping victory in the Nov 9th Clementswood ward by election.

Celebrating Clementswood by-election wiin

Labour had held the ward unchallenged by any other party since 1962. In the May 2006 Borough elections they they won again with ~1400 votes (53%). The Liberal Democrats then trailed in fourth place.

Following the sad death of Labour Councillor Simon Green in August a by-election became due. The 9 strong Liberal Democrat council group in Redbridge decided to make a serious campaign fought to win the seat from Labour.

They picked Irfan Mustafa who had joined the Lib Dems after previously standing as a Labour candidate in May 2006.

Over the course of a six week campaign the Liberal Democrats campaigned on a variety of issues from threats to close the local King George Hospital, to the high crime rate in the ward. They challenged Labour complacency in the ward, and invited voters to send a message that Tony Blair must go.

Irfan Mustafas ' campaign team carried the fight to Labour, who despite their personal attacks on the growlingly popular Irfan, steadily lost ground over the campaign.

Clementswood by-election data

By polling day the Lib Dems knew they could win an amazing victory in the ward where Labour votes were previously said to have been weighed not counted. It became clear as the ballot papers were counted that the lib Dems were in for a sensational victory. Labours 1400 votes dissolved down to 715, while the Lib Dems vote went up from 266 to 904. Tory votes also dropped from their previous low, in second place last May. The record 27% swing from Labour to Liberal Democrat is unequalled in the 43 year history of the borough of Redbridge. Irfan Mustafa becomes the first ever non-Labour councillor for the Redbridge ward of Clementswood.

Clementswood by-election % change

Cllr Richard Hoskins, Press Officer, Redbridge Liberal Democrats,10 Nov 2006, Contact: richard.hoskins@redbridge.gov.uk