Liberal Democrat vote soars in by-election

12.00.00am GMT Fri 14th Nov 2008

Liberal Democrat support soared in yesterday's Markfield by-election

Liberal Democrats in Hinckley and Bosworth have achieved a massive increase in their vote in the Markfield, Stanton Under Bardon and Field Head by-election held yesterday.

The Liberal Democrat candidate Robin Webber-Jones secured over 21% of the vote. Nearly treble the 8.7% the Lib Dems secured last time the seat was contested last year.

Liberal Democrat agent Cllr Stuart Bray said "We are delighted to have been the only party to have increased our vote share, all the other parties vote shares fell.

"This was always going to be a difficult by-election for the Lib Dems, it was the ward which recorded the lowest Liberal Democrat vote last year. Despite that we have a secured a huge increase in our vote.

"Our campaign issues of opposing the Conservative County Council's plans for an incinerator in nearby Bardon and challenging Conservative neglect of Markfield clearly struck a chord with many local people."