Liberal Democrat Kew Victory

10.17.05am GMT Wed 24th Dec 2003

Liberal Democrats have been celebrating the massive victory in the Kew by-election on 18 December where Jane Arneil increased the paper thin majority of three achieved by the late councillor Tony Barnett, to 487.

Speaking after the election, Councillor Arneil said "I am delighted by the scale of the victory and would like to thank the people of Kew for voting for me in such large numbers. I very much hope to serve the whole population"

Her fellow ward councillor and Leader of the Liberal Democrat Opposition on Richmond Borough Council, Serge Lourie said "This will have given the Conservative Administration food for thought over the Christmas and New Year holiday. In Jane Arneil, we have a new councillor with an interest in education, gained through having her children in state schools."

Electors liked the fact that;

• Jane Arneil was active in the local community as a Kew resident for 11 years;

• Lib Dems had been active in the local community since the last election regularly publishing a commentary on local affairs;

• Lib Dems have campaigned on local issues including excessive develop-ments on the riverside, closure of the post office and dangerous traffic.

Key issues raised on the doorstep were:

• The fact that the record 15.6% increase in Council Tax was unnecessary because of the Council's huge reserves;

• Excessive charges for the use of day centres and their possible closure;

• Sale of Council land for the construction of expensive houses.

The result was as follows

Jane Arneil 1,722

Tory 1,235

Labour 85

Green 104

The turnout was higher than expected at 47%. The swing from Tory to Liberal Democrat was 8.4%.

For further information, contact Cllr Serge Lourie on Home 020 8876 7368;mobile 07958 589589; office 020 7828 6288.