July 28, 2017 10.22 am This story is over 79 months old

Conservative Bruce Allison named as new West Lindsey councillor after by-election

Conservative party candidate Bruce Allison has been elected as the new Scotter & Blyton ward councillor on West Lindsey District Council following a by-election. He retained the seat for the party with 694 votes, following the resignation of Conservative district councillor Adam Duguid. The full result was: Bruce Allison, Conservative 694 (44.0%) Elected Liz Clews,…

Conservative party candidate Bruce Allison has been elected as the new Scotter & Blyton ward councillor on West Lindsey District Council following a by-election.

He retained the seat for the party with 694 votes, following the resignation of Conservative district councillor Adam Duguid.

The full result was:

  • Bruce Allison, Conservative 694 (44.0%) Elected
  • Liz Clews, Liberal Democrat 555 (35.1%)
  • Jonathan Harper, Labour 230 (14.6%)
  • Neville Jones, UKIP 100 (6.3%)

The turnout was 25.7%.

Newly elected councillor Bruce Allison said: “I want to thank the Returning Officer, the county staff and all those that kept the polling stations open throughout this election.

“I am very grateful to everyone who has supported me with a special mention to my Agent, Giles McNeill, and my wife Christine, who both worked tirelessly to make this happen.

“I wish to thank everyone who has participated in today’s election. I will work hard for everyone across the Scotter and Blyton Ward in my new role as district councillor and I hope we can all come together to make this ward and West Lindsey a great place to live, work and play.”

Conservative Party Agent, Giles McNeill added: “An increase in the share of votes for the Party is always very welcome. We increased our share of the vote by nearly 9% since the last election in 2015.

“That’s a real achievement after nine years in power at the council, seven years in government, all the time protecting delivery of frontline local services, as funding from central government disappears.”

‘A vindication of positive politics’

Councillor McNeil also took the opportunity to criticise the local Labour campaign: “Bruce’s victory is a vindication of positive politics. Local Conservatives pride ourselves on our honesty and integrity. We run campaigns that are about what we would do in office, not sneering at people or attacking others.

“The bitterness of the Labour campaign must surely be one reason for their poor performance, dropping back when they are topping the polls is humiliating for them.

“They really should have come second, not third in this contest, but were several hundred votes behind the Liberal Democrat candidate in second place.”

Sir Edward Leigh, Gainsborough MP. said: “I am delighted to hear that Bruce has won his seat on the council. As a local school governor, parish councillor and former policeman I am sure he will add to the many talents of the Conservative Group.”