Massive Lib Dem Surge but Labour squeeze in

Written by Neil Bradbury on Sat 7th May 2005

Despite a massive swing to the Lib Dems in Prudhoe West Labour won by an agonisingly close 16 votes yesterday in the County Council elections. "we said it was neck and neck - and we were right!" said candidate Neil Bradbury. "I'm obviously disappointed but wish the elected councillor well over the next four years".

Despite Prudhoe East being a top target seat for the Tories, they failed to make significant progress there and the Lib Dem vote for local candidate Darren Levitt went up despite predictions from pundits of a squeeze.

In other news, Prudhoe Lib Dem councillor Donna Bradbury was the only one of the three main parties to increase her vote in neighbouring Bywell ward , with the Tories and Labour falling back. Were it not for some of the anti Labour vote going to an independent campaigning for retention of the middle schools she could well of pulled off an unexpected coup.

The results in the three elections were:

Prudhoe West

Labour - 1,000 votes (43.2%, down 15.5% on 2001 election)

Neil Bradbury - Lib Dem - 984 votes (42.5%, up 19.5% on 2001 election)

Conservatives - 329 votes (14.2%, down 4.2% on 2001 election)

Majority 16 (down from 777)

Prudhoe East

Labour - 1,473 votes (55.5%, down 13.3%)

Conservatives - 643 votes (24.3%, up 9.3%)

Darren Levitt - Lib Dem - 539 votes (20.3%, up 5%)

Bywell

Labour - 880 votes (34.2%, down 10.2%)

Conservatives - 764 votes (29.7%, down 4.8%)

Donna Bradbury -Lib Dem - 699 votes (27.2%, up 6.7%)

Independent - 228 votes (8.9%, did not stand in 2001)