Lib Dem campaigners hail strong performance in Rothwell by-election

5.58.00pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 29th Mar 2008

By-election candidate Daniel Garside has hailed an "encouraging" performance for the Liberal Democrats

Local Liberal Democrat campaigners have hailed an "encouraging" performance in the Trinity by-election, after the party increased its share of the vote by more than two-thirds, amid falling support for both Labour and the Conservatives.

The result of Thursday's town council by-election, which marks the first local election in Rothwell that has been contested by the Liberal Democrats since 1997, saw the party increase its share of the vote from 9.8% to 16.9% whilst Labour's share of the vote plummeted to its lowest level in over 20 years.

Liberal Democrat candidate Daniel Garside said, "I would like to thank the people of Rothwell for the warm welcome that they have given me and my team on the doorstep and give my particular thanks to the 166 fellow Rowellians who voted for me on Thursday."

"With Labour's share of the vote falling to its lowest level since the 1980s it's clear that - like in so many parts of Kettering constituency - Rowellians neither trust Labour to prove an credible alternative to the failings of the Conservatives nor believe that they have the ability to defeat them."

"With more and more people switching to the Liberal Democrats, I am encouraged by this clear indication that the people of Rothwell increasingly want an alternative. We in the Liberal Democrats look forward to continuing to work hard to provide this alternative for the people of Rothwell in the months and years to come."

ENDS

The by-election result in full:

Rothwell Town Council By-Election, Trinity Ward (Thursday 27th March 2008)

Con - 487 votes - 49.1% (-8.6%)

Lab - 337 votes - 34.0% (-8.2%)

Lib Dem (Daniel Garside) - 167 votes - 16.9% (+16.9%)

TOTAL - 991 [Turnout: 32.8% (-9.4%)]

Conservative hold.