Mountain too big, says Featherstone
DEFEATED Lynne Featherstone said she was faced with “a mountain to climb — and failed”.
The former Home Office minister was unseated as the Lib-Dem vote collapsed across the country. “It has been a bad night but I’d like to thank the people of this constituency for the privilege of representing them,” she said.
She had held the seat since 2005 but her majority of 6,875 was smashed.
Despite her defeat and the unravelling of the Lib-Dem vote nationally, she added: “We have suffered but I still think coalitions are a positive thing.”
Labour’s Catherine West, who won 51 per cent of the vote, thanked her celebrity backers, including comedians Steve Coogan and Eddie Izzard, for helping her in a bitterly fought campaign.
The seat was a key Labour target and Ms West romped home with a majority of 11,058.
The ex-leader of Islington council and mother of two, originally from Australia, said: “I fought with my heart and soul but to win with such a big majority is still a sur- prise. The voters decided on fairness. I think the Living Wage and my pledge to fight for that for everyone was popular on the doorstep.
“People who are better off in this constituency are not happy that many others are struggling and they want something done about it.” Her campaign sparked controversy when she issued a leaflet mistakenly claiming Ms Featherstone was at the Home Office when the Government launched a van campaign warning illegal immigrants that they should quit the country or face arrest.
Ms West said as she prepared to celebrate with her family: “I would like to talk to Lynne, as we get on well, but maybe at a later date. We did shake hands at least.”