Nancy Jirira storms to victory in Fortune Green by-election

1.37.00am GMT Fri 22nd Feb 2008

Local campaigner Nancy Jirira is the new Lib Dem councillor for Fortune Green, elected by a clear majority of votes in Thursday's by-election to choose a successor to the late Jane Schopflin.

"I'm so honoured to have been chosen to represent my area," said Nancy after the declaration. "It's a humbling experience to have so many people put their trust in me and I promise that I won't let the residents of Fortune Green down. I'm looking forward to working with [the two other Lib Dem councillors for Fortune Green] Flick Rea and Russell Eagling and we will continue the fight to stop the local Post Office closures."

Nancy won over half (51.5%) of the total votes cast in a four-way fight. This increased the Lib Dem share of the vote by 5% compared to the 2006 Council elections, when Lib Dems took 46.5% of the vote in Fortune Green. There was a 2.2% swing from Conservative to Liberal Democrat. Labour came in third with a reduced share of the vote.

The result in full:

Nancy Jirira (Lib Dem) 1206 (51.5%)

Conservative 551 (23.5%)

Labour 405 (17.3%)

Green 178 (7.6%)