Lib Dems triumph in Nonsuch by-election

12.39.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 3rd Jul 2009

The borough's Liberal Democrats were celebrating last night as they saw their candidate, Gerry Jerome, romp home to a decisive victory in a high turnout contest in the Nonsuch ward by-election.

The election saw the Conservatives lose the seat to the Liberal Democrats with their vote falling by 7% to see the Gerry Jerome poll over 50% of the vote.

In a high turnout the Liberal Democrats saw their share of the vote increase. The result follows on from last months European elections which saw the Lib Dems vote going up while both the Conservative and Labour votes went down.

Gerry joins his wife Kirsty and colleague Roger Roberts as councillors for Nonsuch ward.

Commenting on his result Gerry Jerome said: "I am grateful to the people who voted for me. The result demonstrates that people like having a Liberal Democrat Council and a Liberal Democrat MP working for them.

"Now it's down to work: getting action on Victoria House, pressing Mayor Johnson to get Central Road moving and working hard for everyone in Worcester Park and North Cheam ."

With the Conservatives failing to hold the seat local MP Paul Burstow hailed the result as a further sign of Lib Dem momentum, "The reception on the doorsteps was very positive. People like the way the Lib Dem Council is running the borough. The voters have spoken: Liberal Democrat going up, the Tories going down and Labour out of the race.

Nonsuch By Election Result:

Gerry Jerome, Liberal Democrats: 1,665 votes (50.6% share)

Georg Braun, Conservative Party: 1,329 votes (40.4% share)

Peter North, British National Party: 211 votes (6.4% share)

Marcus Papadopoulos, Labour Party: 88 votes (2.7% share)

Majority 336

3298 ballots issued (41% turnout)

5.25% swing from the Conservatives to the Liberal Democrats