Lib Dems hold Berrylands as voters keep faith in ruling party (From Surrey Comet)

Lib Dems hold Berrylands as voters keep faith in ruling party

12:30am Friday 1st March 2013 in News By Jon Sharman, Reporter

The Liberal Democrats held Berrylands last night as voters opted to keep faith in the borough's ruling party.

Victorious candidate Sushila Abraham won by 187 votes.

She said: "The campaign was fantastic and the response we had from the residents was fantastic.

"I'm absolutely excited about the whole thing, that the Berrylands people have faith in us. I think they trusted in me to do the job."

Conservative candidate Mike Head said: "It's a big disappointment to be honest. I think UKIP have had a much bigger share than normal which might be something we need to take into account.

"I'm hoping to fight this ward next time around. I would like to stand again because it's my passionate patch."

Labour's Tony Banks said: "I'm pleased in a way in that we have doubled our share of the vote and we can't quibble with that in a ward really where historically we have done nothing."

The by-election was triggered by the death of sitting Liberal Democrat councillor Frances Moseley.

The make-up of Kingston Council is unchanged by the result with 26 Liberal Democrats allowing them to run the council, 21 Conservatives and one independent - Tim Dennen - who left the Liberal Democrats in April last year after coming under investigation for alleged benefit fraud.

Berrylands 2013 by-election results

Sushila Abraham Lib Dem 948

Mike Head Conservative 761

Tony Banks Lab 455 

Michael Watson UKIP 175

Ryan Coley Green 112

Turnout 34.46 percent

To see the results from 2010 click here