Labour holds off Everton protesters in Knowsley

May 2 2008 by Staff Copytaker, Liverpool Daily Post

No shocks in Knowsley as anti-stadium party fails to secure a single seat

LABOUR clung on to hotly-contested seats in Kirkby, despite pre-election predictions of upsets in the wake of Everton FC and Tesco’s controversial stadium and retail plan for the town centre.

This was the most hotly- contested election for several years in Knowsley, an authority known as the Red Rose borough.

Last year featured five uncontested seats, but last night’s turnout rose in Kirkby to the high 20s.

Campaigners against the stadium application formed the single issue political party 1st4Kirkby. But the expected shocks failed to materialise. None of the new party managed to steal a seat from the sitting council members.

Cllr Eddie Connor, cabinet member for Leisure, standing in Northwood, celebrated a resounding victory over the Lib- Dems’ Sarah Wynn. He polled 791 votes to 198.

Cllr Jackie Harris, executive member for community safety, hauled in 722 votes, more than doubling the total polled by Tony Barton, 1st4Kirkby leader and former Labour executive Peter Fisher.

1st4Kirkby candidate in Whitefield, Jennifer Wharton, pushed Labour the closest, getting within 17 votes of new Labour candidate Ros Smith.

The third 1st4Kirkby candidate, Ann Murphy, lost out by close to 150 votes to Labour’s Edward Grannell, in Cherryfield, where much of the proposed development will take place.

Speaking after his victory, Cllr Connor, the spokesman for Destination Kirkby, said he was pleased with the results. He said: “I’ve always supported the scheme and everybody knows that. Luckily the people of Northwood have voted for me again tonight.”

However, the new party remained defiant.

Mrs Wharton said: “I was disappointed to lose out so narrowly and I think that for a new party in such a Labour stronghold, the figures speak volumes.”

Despite the lack of surprises in Kirkby, Lib-Dems celebrated landing three new seats across the borough. Labour went into the night with 50 of the council’s 63 seats, and the Lib-Dems have narrowed that majority.

Before voting began, Lib-Dems had put St Gabriels, Longview and St Barts high on their hit list. St Gabriels went the way of Lib- Dem candidate Frank Walsh, who said: “The Labour candidate here had been in for 20 years and now we’ve ousted him.

“For the first time, St Gabriels control has moved to us.

“The Achilles heel, I think, was the closing of post offices – a Labour commitment nationally.”

Longview and St Barts remained Labour seats but Halewood South and Whiston South both went to Lib-Dem.

Lib Dems group leader Ian Smith, who won his Prescot West seat last night, said: “The Whiston South win was extra special. We’ve won more than forecast and it’s been a very nice night for the Lib-Dems. It should mean that the Prescot and Whiston area partnership ward is chaired by a Lib-Dem, which is a success.”

Commenting on the three Liberal Democrat gains on Knowsley Council, Liberal Democrat leader Nick Clegg said: “This is a good result for Knowsley Liberal Democrats.The Liberal Democrats’ fresh approach has clearly struck a chord with Knowsley voters who are tired of the two establishment parties.”

The Conservative group and BNP failed once again to land a single seat in the borough.

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