Voters switch to Lib Dems from Conservatives in local election

10.03.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 25th Apr 2008

Local Liberal Democrat campaigners won a massive upturn in support in yesterday's by-election in the Little Stour and Ashstone ward. The Lib Dem vote went up from 20.2% to 27.3% while Conservative support fell from 69.2% to 66%.

"It is a body-blow to the Conservatives in the Dover District Council ward who were represented by their agent and campaign manager," said Wingham Parish Council Chairman Bryan Curtis, who stood for the Liberal Democrats.

"I particularly campaigned against the Conservative Council's plan to close St Nicholas' in Ash, which is our sheltered accommodation for elderly people," Bryan Curtis said.

"This magnificent increase in our support shows that people like the alternative we are providing to really bad ideas from the Conservative Council," he said.

Labour's candidate from Dover came a poor third with just 6.7% of the vote despite sending Stephen Ladyman MP to canvass local people.

Leader of the Liberal Democrats on Dover District Council, Cllr Clive Meredith said, "This result shows again that people in our area support local candidates and reject contenders parachuted in from outside. Also, in our villages it is clearly a two horse race between Liberal Democrats and Conservatives."

"Under my leadership the Liberal Democrats on DDC will continue to take the fight to the Conservatives over their plans to swamp our villages with new housing and cut accommodation for elderly and disabled people."

Lib Dem success in the Little Stour and Ashstone ward follows that of Dover Liberal Democrat, John Mackie, who pushed the Conservative Party into third place in last autumn's by-election in Maxton, Priory and Elms Vale. "This shows how Liberal democrats are fighting elections as the challengers to Labour and Conservative candidates," said John Mackie.

This week's by-election was called to elect a new member of Dover District Council after a Conservative councillor quit for personal reasons. Little Stour and Ashstone ward covers Ash, Wingham, Staple, Preston and surrounding areas.