Islington Lib Dems make it four wins in a row

12.00.00am GMT Fri 31st Oct 2003

Jay Sharma, the Liberal Democrat candidate in the Hillrise ward by-election last Thursday was elected with an increased majority of 200 over Labour. The election was caused by the resignation of Sarah Teather following her sensational election as MP for Brent East, a former safe Labour seat, in September. Yesterday's Hillrise election was the fourth by-election Islington Liberal Democrats have faced in the last 12 months. Every single election has been held by the Liberal Democrats. The result in Hillrise, a former Labour stronghold, was particularly impressive given that Labour had said it was a key target for them and the particularly negative and personal campaign they ran. Labour's share of the vote was actually down on the last Hillrise by-election in May. New Liberal Democrat councillor Jay Sharma, who lives in Hillrise ward and who works for the Citizens' Advice Bureau, said: "I am really grateful to the people of Hillrise for giving me the chance to be their local councillor and am looking forward to continuing my work in the community. "I am particularly pleased that the voters of Hillrise have given the Liberal Democrat council and the team in Hillrise such a massive vote confidence in the changes and improvements we are making locally." Councillor Laura Willoughby, Islington North Liberal Democrat Spokesperson, said: "Labour threw everything into this campaign and are on the record as saying they were going to win in what they regarded as their heartland. "Labour must be gutted that all their muckraking, smears and lies have actually produced their worst ever result in Hillrise ward." The vote in yesterday's Hillrise by-election was: Liberal Democrats 795 votes 49% +2% on the last Hillrise by-election Labour 595 votes 36% -2% on the last Hillrise by-election Green 177 votes 11% -1% on the last Hillrise by-election Conservatives 64 votes 4% +1% on the last Hillrise by-election