Labour lose Burnley to Lib Dems (From Lancashire Telegraph)
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Labour lose Burnley to Lib Dems
3:30am Friday 7th May 2010 in East Lancashire general election news
By Peter Magill, Chief reporter
Gordon Birtwistle
COUNCIL leader and hospital campaigner Gordon Birtwistle has become the first Liberal to be sent to Parliament by Burnley voters in 75 years.
Coun Birtwistle's tough stance against the closure of Burnley General Hospital's Accident & Emergency and children's wards, and efforts to regenerate the borough, are thought to have been key factors in overturning a 5,778 Labour majority.
He said: "I would like to thank the people of Burnley for their bravery in voting for something new. I can assure you that I will not let them down.
Previously Burnley had been a Labour stronghold since 1935, when Victoria Cross winner Vice Admiral Gordon Campbell, a National Liberal, lost to Wilfred Burke.
Coun Birtwistle beat Labour candidate Julie Cooper by 1,818 votes after previous MP Kitty Ussher chose to stand down.
Mr Birtwistle polled 14,932 votes, compared to his Labour challenger's 13,114.
Richard Ali of the Conservatives took third place with 6,950, with the BNP's Sharon Wilkinson in fourth with 3,747.
Independent candidate Andrew Brown polled 1,876 votes, John Wignall of UKIP 929 and independent Andrew Hennessey 297.
Mr Birtwistle told the Lancashire Telegraph that he intended to stay on as a borough councillor, if he wins his Coalclough with Deerplay seat in today's borough polls.
But a new leader and council executive will be elected after Burnley Lib Dems meet over the weekend.
Mr Birtwistle, 67, of Rosehill, Burnley, has become the borough's MP at the fourth time of asking - he came second to Ms Ussher in 2005.
Click here to follow our live blog for updates.
Comments(19)
UniteAsOne
says...
9:15am Fri 7 May 10
lik,makes triumphant return to his home town to take up new role as TV technology advisor at local Comet store !!!!!! Welcome home,welcome,come on in and close the door !!!!!
Andy H
says...
9:38am Fri 7 May 10
Pennine Lad
says...
12:21pm Fri 7 May 10
DaveBurnley wrote:....and will probably help to produce a Conservative Government as a result.
This is Burnley's way of showing their thanks to NuLabour for their efforts in getting rid of our hospital services. Well done Gordon!
Let's see then what happens to the NHS and other vital public services.
superheavy
says...
12:34pm Fri 7 May 10
Pennine Lad wrote:no one knows him better than me he was born in west end ossy and is a red hot rover fan which is unforgivable in the clarets town of burnley.
DaveBurnley wrote: This is Burnley's way of showing their thanks to NuLabour for their efforts in getting rid of our hospital services. Well done Gordon!....and will probably help to produce a Conservative Government as a result. Let's see then what happens to the NHS and other vital public services.
Chris P Bacon
says...
12:36pm Fri 7 May 10
UniteAsOne wrote:Result of the day, that, I think! What a charlatan that rip-off merchant supreme really is and about time the public saw through him and turfed him out!
Local boy Shahid'Widescreen'Ma
lik,makes triumphant return to his home town to take up new role as TV technology advisor at local Comet store !!!!!! Welcome home,welcome,come on in and close the door !!!!!
Mo Lestor
says...
12:39pm Fri 7 May 10
Pennine Lad wrote:Could it possibly be any worse than what this bunch of Labour idiots have done?
DaveBurnley wrote: This is Burnley's way of showing their thanks to NuLabour for their efforts in getting rid of our hospital services. Well done Gordon!....and will probably help to produce a Conservative Government as a result. Let's see then what happens to the NHS and other vital public services.
.
The A and E dept has already been closed down and access to dental care in the area is some of the worst in the country!!
.
Not to mention the worst disturbances the town has ever seen?
.
You sound like a typical Burnley numpty. "I,m voting Labour because my dad, his dad and their dog did"
.
In fact i bet your dad's dog would have done a better job?
Pennine Lad
says...
1:06pm Fri 7 May 10
Mo Lestor wrote:"Could it possibly be any worse than what this bunch of Labour idiots have done?"
Pennine Lad wrote:Could it possibly be any worse than what this bunch of Labour idiots have done? . The A and E dept has already been closed down and access to dental care in the area is some of the worst in the country!! . Not to mention the worst disturbances the town has ever seen? . You sound like a typical Burnley numpty. "I,m voting Labour because my dad, his dad and their dog did" . In fact i bet your dad's dog would have done a better job?DaveBurnley wrote: This is Burnley's way of showing their thanks to NuLabour for their efforts in getting rid of our hospital services. Well done Gordon!....and will probably help to produce a Conservative Government as a result. Let's see then what happens to the NHS and other vital public services.
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Yes it could!
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As history shows, a Tory-led Government would withdraw public services and regeneration funding from areas like this. Shame on the LibDems if they allow this to happen.
DaveBurnley
says...
1:11pm Fri 7 May 10
The Tories and LibDems have both said that we should have an A&E, let's see if they can deliver!
Mike Costa
says...
2:18pm Fri 7 May 10
If anyone believes what the Tories say, then they are totally niave.
Its alright for Miss Usher to abandon the town to return to her job in the Cat Cinema, but look what a mess she has left behind! Still better the Lib Dems than the heinous Tories any day
ganja man
says...
2:46pm Fri 7 May 10
1. Gordon to make history and become the town's MP.
TRUE
2. The BNP share of the vote to go down both locally and nationally. That NO BNP MP's would be elected.
TRUE
Let's hope Burnley's fortunes can be reversed in the hands of a local champion and winner.
Pennine Lad
says...
2:52pm Fri 7 May 10
DaveBurnley wrote:Yes. In fact, I was assuming that David Cameron would have mentioned it in his speech just now about working with the LibDems.
Had NuLab been returned I think they would have taken it as a vote for scrapping the rest of the hospital. The Tories and LibDems have both said that we should have an A&E, let's see if they can deliver!
.
However, no doubt they will discuss Burnley's A&E when they start negotiations. It can then re-open in six months' time.
disgusted tunbridge wells
says...
3:42pm Fri 7 May 10
The "Jobs for the Boys" machine will kick into action and he'll be OK mark my words
Phil_Ray
says...
3:51pm Fri 7 May 10
297 votes, I've got more friends on facebook!
Up the Conservatives.
gazdula
says...
7:07pm Fri 7 May 10
Phil_Ray wrote:A Tory in PADIHAM!
Andrew - now is the time to give it up, spend your next election deposit on a nice holiday. All those hours snarling up the roundabouts at gannow top - wasted. 297 votes, I've got more friends on facebook! Up the Conservatives.
Where did they fly you in from then?
Chris P Bacon
says...
10:52pm Fri 7 May 10
disgusted tunbridge wells wrote:'ang on; I wrote (almost Fazakerly) that, diddle eye?
Result of the day, that, I think! What a charlatan that rip-off merchant supreme really is and about time the public saw through him and turfed him out!"
The "Jobs for the Boys" machine will kick into action and he'll be OK mark my words
RAyzer
says...
2:12pm Mon 10 May 10
ganja man wrote:the racist fake himself....your lot labour are out now pal,no more sciving as torys will cut all your benefits!!!!!!!!!!!!
Both my predictions made 4 MONTHS earlier came true, otherwise as part of the bargain i would have to STOP posting on this LET site.
1. Gordon to make history and become the town's MP.
TRUE
2. The BNP share of the vote to go down both locally and nationally. That NO BNP MP's would be elected.
TRUE
Let's hope Burnley's fortunes can be reversed in the hands of a local champion and winner.
!back to your cave!!!to smoke da herb as you would say!!!!get your BMW out and get cruising with volume on at full,looking as chavy as you do!!!!!!!!with your fake henleys and rocksport!!!!!!!!
ganja man
says...
5:49pm Mon 10 May 10
He is resorting to using one of his many aliases on this site.
"RAyzer" is back in fashion now, akon?
Judging by the content of your post, it is understandable to many folk as to why the BNP lost a large amount of supporters in the election.
Keep posting "RAyzer" known as akon, you are doing a great job on behalf of UAF(UNITE AGAINST FASCISM)
Captain Kickoff
says...
8:43pm Mon 10 May 10
ganja man wrote:ganja man wrote:
Both my predictions made 4 MONTHS earlier came true, otherwise as part of the bargain i would have to STOP posting on this LET site.
1. Gordon to make history and become the town's MP.
TRUE
2. The BNP share of the vote to go down both locally and nationally. That NO BNP MP's would be elected.
TRUE
Let's hope Burnley's fortunes can be reversed in the hands of a local champion and winner.
"Let's hope Burnley's fortunes can be reversed in the hands of a local champion and winner."
I thought Gordon Birtweasle won?
DaveBurnley says...
7:03am Fri 7 May 10
Well done Gordon!