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10:11am Friday 11th March 2011 in Rosegrove
By Peter Magill, Chief reporter
THE ruling Liberal Democrats in Burnley were beaten into third place by Labour and the British National Party in a by-election yesterday.
Well-known community campaigner Bea Foster triumphed for Labour, winning the Rosegrove and Lowerhouse election in the by-election prompted by the resignation of Lib Dem Julie Johnson.
Labour garnered 521 votes, BNP candidate Paul McDevitt 288 and Lib Dem's Kate Mottershead on 261.
The Lib Dems say they have learned a ‘hard lesson’ folllowing the by-election, which was held against a backdrop of unpopularity nationally for the party over its role in the coalition Government.
The Conservative’s Matthew Isherwood received 81 votes and Independent candidate Andrew Hennessey, who also stood at the General Election, got 58.
Coun Foster, a retired youth and community worker and lay preacher at Greenbrook Methodist Church, thanked voters, for braving stormy conditions to vote and party colleagues for their efforts during the campaign.
She said: “I am a people person and I loved listening to people on the doorstep. Now I want to work with people, not just for them, in dealing with their problems.”
Coun Julie Cooper, Labour group leader, said: “I think we have turned a corner with this result. We worked very hard on this campaign.
“The message on the doorsteps was that people were saying they had voted Lib Dem at the General Election and now feel let down.”
Lib Dem council leader Coun Charlie Briggs said: “We need to get across our message on the things we’ve done in Burnley for Burnley.
“We learned a hard lesson last night and the local party has some serious thinking to do.”
The result means there are now 20 Lib Dems, 15 Labour councillors, five Conservatives, two British National Party and one Independent, with two vacancies, on the council.
Beatrice Foster, Labour 521
Paul McDevitt, British National Party 288
Kate Mottershead, Liberal Democrat 261
Mathew Isherwood, Conservative 81
Andrew Hennessey, Independent 58.
Turnout 25%.
Comments(26)
masher49
says...
10:39am Fri 11 Mar 11
working chap wrote:Main danger is BNP reading too much into coming second. Many of thier votes must be a protest against ConDem Alliance.
Not surprising. No one is ever going to trust the LibDems again after they took their 30 pieces of silver from the Torys. Good to see the BNP did not get elected.
andy1
says...
11:06am Fri 11 Mar 11
midas
says...
11:37am Fri 11 Mar 11
midas
says...
11:38am Fri 11 Mar 11
ABBEY ROAD
says...
11:52am Fri 11 Mar 11
andy1
says...
12:05pm Fri 11 Mar 11
midas wrote:Sorry Midas but listening to Cameron in parliament makes you realise hes really like the Young Pretender Bonnie Prince Charlie but a Politician. Its very amusing watching him try to worm his way out of straight forward questions put to him. Basically hes a joke just like Clegg. Fair comment to you ove only being a 25% turn out which is about average even for a full term of office say no more.
When does the party in power ever win a by-election?
.
I think you can predict that the Lib Dems and Tories wont win a by election in the next 3-4 years as they will be punished for making the hard decisions they think are necessary.
.
Once the mess has been cleared up and the benefits of these cuts become apparent then there will be an increase in public spending, reduction in taxation and the masses will vote for them again.
.
Throw in a few boundry changes, AV, drop the Scottish and Welsh mps and you will never have to suffer a Labour government again.
jack daniels
says...
12:59pm Fri 11 Mar 11
midas wrote:i'd rather have another new liebour government than to put up with your drivel
When does the party in power ever win a by-election? . I think you can predict that the Lib Dems and Tories wont win a by election in the next 3-4 years as they will be punished for making the hard decisions they think are necessary. . Once the mess has been cleared up and the benefits of these cuts become apparent then there will be an increase in public spending, reduction in taxation and the masses will vote for them again. . Throw in a few boundry changes, AV, drop the Scottish and Welsh mps and you will never have to suffer a Labour government again.
five
says...
1:00pm Fri 11 Mar 11
working chap wrote:Well said.
Not surprising. No one is ever going to trust the LibDems again after they took their 30 pieces of silver from the Torys. Good to see the BNP did not get elected.
midas
says...
1:34pm Fri 11 Mar 11
jack daniels wrote:Looks like you will be waiting for another 4 years! Suck it in :-)
midas wrote: When does the party in power ever win a by-election? . I think you can predict that the Lib Dems and Tories wont win a by election in the next 3-4 years as they will be punished for making the hard decisions they think are necessary. . Once the mess has been cleared up and the benefits of these cuts become apparent then there will be an increase in public spending, reduction in taxation and the masses will vote for them again. . Throw in a few boundry changes, AV, drop the Scottish and Welsh mps and you will never have to suffer a Labour government again.i'd rather have another new liebour government than to put up with your drivel
time.team
says...
3:35pm Fri 11 Mar 11
Truth will out
says...
5:38pm Fri 11 Mar 11
jack daniels
says...
5:42pm Fri 11 Mar 11
midas wrote:it will take more than 4 years for osbourne and cameron to realise they screwed up.
jack daniels wrote:Looks like you will be waiting for another 4 years! Suck it in :-)midas wrote: When does the party in power ever win a by-election? . I think you can predict that the Lib Dems and Tories wont win a by election in the next 3-4 years as they will be punished for making the hard decisions they think are necessary. . Once the mess has been cleared up and the benefits of these cuts become apparent then there will be an increase in public spending, reduction in taxation and the masses will vote for them again. . Throw in a few boundry changes, AV, drop the Scottish and Welsh mps and you will never have to suffer a Labour government again.i'd rather have another new liebour government than to put up with your drivel
Good call
says...
6:32pm Fri 11 Mar 11
Michael@ClitheroeSince58
says...
6:50pm Fri 11 Mar 11
MargretofBurnley
says...
10:05pm Fri 11 Mar 11
fridge2195
says...
10:53pm Fri 11 Mar 11
MargretofBurnley
says...
12:04am Sat 12 Mar 11
e/lancs
says...
11:45am Sat 12 Mar 11
gannow man
says...
12:56pm Sat 12 Mar 11
MargretofBurnley wrote:I think C Briggs has suddenly found out politics is a nasty business the point that his wife used her position as a councillor to be a character witness for a man accused of being a peadophile will not do them any good when it is made public in the May elections.
Is it right about Charlie Briggs Lib/dem leader of Burnley council leaving the Lib/dems in Burnley? Most people were witness to the arguments and frustrations of the Lib/dems at the count last night, it seems that the in-fighting is a direct result of their Conservative alliance.
Good call
says...
4:39pm Sat 12 Mar 11
gannow man wrote:What gets me gannow man is that sheeple who vote Liebour are the same ones who moan about Immigration they're like turkeys voting for christmas.
MargretofBurnley wrote: Is it right about Charlie Briggs Lib/dem leader of Burnley council leaving the Lib/dems in Burnley? Most people were witness to the arguments and frustrations of the Lib/dems at the count last night, it seems that the in-fighting is a direct result of their Conservative alliance.I think C Briggs has suddenly found out politics is a nasty business the point that his wife used her position as a councillor to be a character witness for a man accused of being a peadophile will not do them any good when it is made public in the May elections. People did not vote her in to do that. As plain old mrs Briggs her words would have carried no weight, An abuse of position if ever there was one. As to the election well Birties face was a picture, Everyone applauded the winner except the LibDems Kate Mottershead had her trademark scowl in place all that was missing was her trademark jumper. The BNP Ran a campaign on real local issues, Issues that Labour and the LibDems have had years to get to grips with but have failed. But the sheep voted Labour "Because me dad did and his dad before him"
gannow man
says...
6:08pm Sat 12 Mar 11
Good call wrote:Totaly agree. In fact the Labour party voters are the worst when it comes to being racist, I have seen survey reports wher people are questioned about several subjects effecting the country and they answers they give would convince you they were anything but Labour voters but the habit is firmly planted in their heads.
gannow man wrote:What gets me gannow man is that sheeple who vote Liebour are the same ones who moan about Immigration they're like turkeys voting for christmas.
MargretofBurnley wrote: Is it right about Charlie Briggs Lib/dem leader of Burnley council leaving the Lib/dems in Burnley? Most people were witness to the arguments and frustrations of the Lib/dems at the count last night, it seems that the in-fighting is a direct result of their Conservative alliance.I think C Briggs has suddenly found out politics is a nasty business the point that his wife used her position as a councillor to be a character witness for a man accused of being a peadophile will not do them any good when it is made public in the May elections. People did not vote her in to do that. As plain old mrs Briggs her words would have carried no weight, An abuse of position if ever there was one. As to the election well Birties face was a picture, Everyone applauded the winner except the LibDems Kate Mottershead had her trademark scowl in place all that was missing was her trademark jumper. The BNP Ran a campaign on real local issues, Issues that Labour and the LibDems have had years to get to grips with but have failed. But the sheep voted Labour "Because me dad did and his dad before him"
wow 2
says...
6:41pm Sat 12 Mar 11
ballbags
says...
7:30pm Sat 12 Mar 11
Good call wrote:exactly i think they call it manipulation of the masses...
Well done Sheeple,Voting in a Liebour candidate in Zombie like fashion.If you vote Liebour, then DON'T moan about debt
Immigration and asylum,Crime,Benefit scroungers and the EU.I don't trust any of the Big three but Liebour are the worst of the worst.Why don't you stop voting for the same rubbish and vote for REAL change oh wait,to do that you'd have to turn off eastenders and corrie,Stop taking newspaper/BBC news
reports as the holy grail and start doing your own homework on the Internet and form your own opinions,Something which many of you are too stupid to do.
RAyzer
says...
7:06am Tue 15 Mar 11
RAyzer
says...
7:10am Tue 15 Mar 11
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working chap says...
10:32am Fri 11 Mar 11