Lib Dems secure shock Earl Shilton by-election win over Conservative Cabinet Member

The Lib Dems secured a surprise win in last Thursday's Earl Shilton Town Council by-election, defeating the Conservative candidate, the local Borough Councillor and Hinckley and Bosworth Cabinet member by more than 2-1.

In the Earl Shilton Church Ward by-election Lib Dem Emma Harrison secured 94 votes, Labour's Michael Lehane 55, while Conservative Richard Allen, Borough Councillor for Earl Shilton and Executive member for planning got 46 votes.

New councillor Emma Harrison said "Thank you to everyone who voted for me. I will work hard to take up all the local issues residents raised with me during the campaign."

Councillor Michael Mullaney the Lib Dem parliamentary spokesman for Bosworth said "In the last six months we have had four local by-elections in Hinckley and Bosworth. The Lib Dems have won three, two in Earl Shilton and one in Burbage and in the other in Burbage we cut the Tory majority from 500 to just 37 in the ward of the Tory leader of the Borough Council.

"This vote is a rejection of the failed Tory Borough Council policies of huge Council Tax rises, increased parking charges and the Brown Bin tax.

"This win in Earl Shilton is yet another sign that the local Lib Dem team is making progress and has a real chance of gaining Hinckley and Bosworth Council from the Tories next year."