Labour victory in by-election
LABOUR regained a Doncaster Council seat last night - but Mayor Peter Davies' English Democrats pushed themselves into second place.
Richard Cooper-Holmes won the seat with a majority of 86, just ahead of English Democrat Mick Cooper.
They forced former independent councillors John Cooke and Terry Wilde into third and fourth place, with the independent vote largely split between them.
Mr Cooper-Holmes said: "Labour fought a positive election on the important local issues of bringing new jobs into Rossington, improving schools, and working with the local policing team to tackle anti-social behaviour.
"I am very grateful to everyone who backed our positive message in the face of independent and fringe candidates who fought negative and divisive campaigns."
Labour's Doncaster group chairman Coun Mick James was pleased with his party's win - but disappointed with the turnout of 24.6 per cent.
He said: "I'm delighted that we have regained the seat.
"But I'm extremely concerned that there was a swing to the right towards a party I regards as far right.
"It is down to the mainstream political parties to ensure that we address the issues of concern to the public, such as the national issue of expenses."
English Democrats national leader Robin Tilbrook was pleased with the second place.
He said: "This was not a ward that we would have expected to win, and we had never put a candidate up there before, so this was from a standing start.
"It certainly sets us up to challenge Labour in Doncaster in the May elections, where we intend to put up candidates throughout the borough."
Yesterday's by-election followed the death of independent Coun Jackie Clark who had been a councillor since 2004.
Votes were counted at the council's Copley House building and the result was declared at around 11.30pm.
There were eight spoilt ballot papers.
READ MORE
Subscribe to The Star
Main news index
Your letters
Features
South Yorkshire's environmental news
Kids Zone
More business news
More Rotherham news
More Doncaster news
More Barnsley news
Latest sport
Email to a friend
Print this page
Looking for...
Featured advertisers
Jobs
Search for a job
Motors
Search for a car
Property
Search for a house
Weather for Sheffield
Friday 10 February 2012
Today
Fog
Temperature: -6 C to 0 C
Wind Speed: 14 mph
Wind direction: South east
Tomorrow
Sunny spells
Temperature: -2 C to -1 C
Wind Speed: 9 mph
Wind direction: South west
