Fulham By-Election Confirms Lib Dems are Main Challengers to the Tories

7.09.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 16th Oct 2009

Liberal Democrats in Fulham were quietly pleased with Paul Kennedy's second place in the Town Ward by-election, which was held on 15 October 2009 following the sad death of Councillor Antony Lillis.

The Conservatives held on to this normally safe Tory seat, but their majority over the Liberal Democrats was nearly halved to less than 700 votes on a reduced turnout. Labour came third.

Paul Kennedy, who is vice-Chair of H&F Liberal Democrats, commented:

"It is obviously disappointing and deeply unsatisfactory that Fulham remains a one-party state with only Conservative councillors, so that there is nobody on the Council to scrutinise the Tory administration on behalf of Fulham residents. But we are pleased that we continued to increase our share of the vote ahead of the local elections next year, while the other parties fell back. This result will act as a springboard for our campaign to challenge the unaccountable Tories, and bring local democracy back to Fulham in 2010."

Related Link:

LBHF Declaration of Result.