LIB DEM ELECTION VICTORY

12.00.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 28th Jul 2006

Lib Dems gained their 1st Council Seat on Ashfield District Council on Thursday by winning the Hucknall West by-election. 24 year-old Austin Rathe polled 848 votes, 334 more than his Labour opponent. The Conservatives, who were defending this seat, failed to get a candidate nominated in time.

Result in full

Ashfield DC, Hucknall West

LD A Rathe 848 (40.7 +40.7)

Lab 514 (24.7 -18.6)

Ind 389 (18.7 +18.7),

BNP 331 (15.9 -2.9)

Con [0.0 -37.8]

Majority 334. LD gain from Con. Last fought 2003.

Ashfield chair Jason Zadrozny said "The massive swing to the Lib Dems in the Hucknall West by-election shows that people who are fed up with the Labour Council are now switching to the Lib Dems in big numbers. The Conservatives now have no seats anywhere in Ashfield and are out of the race in the area."