By-Election Sensation for London Lib Dems

9.36.36pm GMT Mon 19th Dec 2005

Liberal Democrats have caused a major political upset by winning a London by-election with a massive swing of 30 per cent.

On Thursday 15th December, Duncan McDonald won the High Barnet ward from the Tories. Barnet Council is now on a knife-edge, with the Tory group having to rely on the casting vote of the mayor to retain their negligible majority.

The Lib Dems jumped from a distant third place, the Tory vote plummeted by 14 per cent while the Labour vote more than halved.

"This is a stunning result and is real incentive for the Lib Dems in London to really pull out the stops next May," said Croydon Lib Dem campaigner Simon Hargrave. "The party in Barnet has shown how a Lib Dem campaign, run effectively, will get a popular response from the voters."

This extraordinary win for the Lib Dems came despite David Cameron promising a new start for the Tories and Charles Kennedy facing criticism from a few of the party's MPs.

"Lib Dem MPs should be taking a leaf out of the Barnet party's book," said Simon, "and concentrating on getting the Lib Dem message across. Charles is the most successful leader we've had in living memory and is our greatest asset."

Related Link:

Local Report of By-Election Result

Charles Kennedy's website