Narrow by-election victory marks ‘turning point’ for Labour Party
Labour’s newest councillor on Sunderland City Council has pledged to get to work immediately after a narrow by-election success to hold the seat.
Councillor Iain Scott received 661 votes, just 27 more than Liberal Democrat candidate John Lennox, to clinch victoryintheHettonwardpoll.
City Council leader, Cllr Graeme Miller, said the result marked a “turning point” for Labour, although Wearside Liberal Democrats argued it shows there are “no safe seats” for the leading party anymore.
The by-election was held after Labour’s Doris Turner passed away in July, aged 81, afterabravebattlewithcancer.
CllrScottsaidhewasthankful to be elected and is now looking to progress with the priorities outlined in his campaign.
He said: “We’ve had a lot of good feedback around the wards during the campaign itself so it’s a really positive result.
“The key priorities are absolutely as set out during the campaign, we’re going to look at things like antisocial behaviour, fly-tipping.
“We’vebeenlisteningtoresidentsaroundthedoorsaswell sowe’vegotagoodunderstanding of what the issues are, and I’m looking to get to work immediately on those.”
Six candidates were vying for the position as votes were counted at Hetton Lyons Primary School late on Thursday night,withConservativeAdelle BurnicleandIndependentDavidGeddisalsopickingupover 300 votes.
Cllr Scott added the end resultshowstheworkoftheparty in the region had been well received,andpraisedthe“fantastic team” behind him.
“You’re looking at the investment at Hetton Primary, looking at investment at Elemore Lane with the green space there as well, there’s a lot ofpositivitygoingaroundandI thinkthatvoteshonethrough,” he said.
City Council leader, Labour’s Cllr Graeme Miller, said the result is a “line in the sand” for the party, after losing seats in the May local elections.
He said: “I think genuinely this a turning point, we’ve drawn a line in the sand now and said no more.
“Sunderland Labour are giving the message to people that look, this is what we’re doing for you, we’re listening to you, we’re delivering what you asked for, and they’re voting for us.”
However leader of the Liberal Democrat group on Sunderland City Council Cllr Niall Hodson, said their party increasing its vote share in the area by a huge 30.3% is a fantastic result locally.
“We have shown that no
seat in the Sunderland Council area can be considered safe for Labour anymore,” said Cllr Hodson.
HoweverCllrMillersaidLabour’sregenerationandrenewal work in Hetton, and across
Sunderland, is a “message of positivity”, supported by the election result.
Cllr Scott now joins Labour representatives James Blackburn and Claire Rowntree as the three councillors for the
Hetton ward.
The total turnout in the byelection was 22.5% with 2,092 votes cast out of a total electorate of 9,312.
Results in full:
Maurice Allen (Independent) 67; Adelle Burnicle (Conservative) 303; David Geddis (Independent) 386; John Lennox (Liberal Democrat) 634; Justine Merton-Scott (Green Party) 41; Iain Scott (Labour) 661.