David Laws

Liberal Democrats | Yeovil

Laws welcomes 14 out of 15 Lib Dem wins in Yeovil constituency local elections

5 June 2009

David Laws, MP for Yeovil constituency, has welcomed the Yeovil constituency results from the Somerset County Council Elections and the byelections held on 4 June.

In Yeovil constituency, of the 15 County elections held, the Liberal Democrats won 14 – winning in Yeovil West, Yeovil South, Yeovil East, Yeovil North and Central, Ilchester, Chard North, Chard South, Ilminster, Crewkerne, Coker and Martock. The party also won the District Council elections in Ilminster and Cokers, and a town council election in Crewkerne.

The only seat won by the Conservatives in Yeovil Constituency was in South Petherton division, where the intervention of a Green Party candidate allowed the Conservatives to win by a slim margin of around 90 votes.

David Laws MP said:

"These are excellent results for the Yeovil Constituency Liberal Democrats – winning 14 out of the 15 contests is a great tribute to the hard work of local Lib Dem Councillors and candidates.

"I was particularly impressed by the strong performance of Liberal Democrat candidates in Ilminster, Chard North and Coker – all seats which had been targeted by the Conservatives and which they expected to win.

"These results show that local residents are pleased with the work that their local councillors are doing, and is also a reflection of the quality of individuals who have stood for us in places such as Ilminster and Chard North.

"However, I know that there will be no complacency in the local Lib Dem party about these results, and we will continue to work hard to demonstrate to local residents that we are determined to protect their interests and be worthy of their continuing support.

"I am obviously disappointed at some of the County Council results in other parts of Somerset, where the Conservatives seem to have benefited from the general anti-Government mood, rather than the performance of Somerset County Council itself. We will ensure that the new County Council is properly held to account for its decisions in the interests of Somerset residents."