Lib Dems welcome increased vote in Swindon

6.45.33pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 4th May 2007

Re-elected Councillor Martin Wiltshire

The Swindon Liberal Democrats have welcomed an increase in their number of votes following yesterday's Borough Council elections.

Some highlights for the local Lib Dems were:

• An overall increase of 7.7% from the last elections in 2006

• A 53.9% increase in votes in Wroughton and Chiseldon

• A 45.2% increase in votes in Shaw and Nine Elm

Lib Dem leader Cllr Stan Pajak said:

"In a mixed night nationally for the Liberal Democrats we were pleased to increase our number of votes in Swindon. All the main parties decreased their relative share of the vote slightly whilst the combined 'small parties' increased their share slightly."

Cllr Dave Wood (Eastcott) added:

"The Wroughton and Chiseldon election was seen by some as a test of the Conservatives stance on green space. The Liberal Democrats, as the only main party to stand against development in Coate and the Front Garden, increased our vote by more than 50%, eating into the Conservative majority.

"Tory Schools reorganisation has been a controversial issue this year and in the Tory Education Chief's own election we increased our vote by nearly 50% at the expense of the Conservatives; leap-frogging Labour into second place. This has been described by some as a backlash against the Tory Schools reorganisation in Shaw and Nine Elm."

In Eastcott, Lib Dem Councillor Martin Wiltshire was re-elected to serve another term.

For the full results of the election see the link below.

Related Link:

Swindon Election Results Website.