‘A stunning victory’ as Labour take two vacant council seats

LABOUR has retained two vacant borough council seats at a by-election.

Shelthorpe, in Loughborough, went to the polls on Thursday to fill both of its seats on Charnwood Borough Council.

The by-election was triggered by the death of Labour councillor Gill Bolton in October and the resignation of Alice Brennan shortly after.

Anne Gray and Beverley Jane Gray secured 709 and 654 votes respectively to win the seats.

Conservative candidate Christopher Stewart, who was originally left off postal vote ballots due to a printing error, forcing new ballots to be distributed, came in third with 311 votes.

The two newlyelected councillors will take the number of seats held by the Labour opposition back to 12, compared with the 37 members of the Conservative majority. There are also two independents and one Green.

Labour group leader Jewel Miah said: “So glad to report that Shelthorpe Ward had returned two Labour councillors.

“The fight against the Tory administration continues. “Anne Gray and Beverley Gray will make fantastic representatives for their ward and excellent representatives on the council.

“The result in Loughborough Shelthorpe is a stunning victory for Labour, both locally and nationally, as Loughborough constituency is a swing seat and Shelthorpe is the most swing seat in it.”

The turnout was 18.66 per cent and results were as follows:

■ Rachel Baker (Green) 108

■ Manu Fantaisie (Lib Dems) 104

■ Faye Forde (Green) 81

■ Beverley Jane Gray (Labour) 709. Elected

■ Anne Gray (Labour) 654. Elected

■ Alex Guerrero (Lib Dems) 136

■ David Charles Unique Hayes (Independent) 149

■ Christopher Gerard Stewart (Conservative) 311.

Loughborough constituency is a swing seat and Shelthorpe is the most swing seat in it.

Labour group leader Jewel Miah