There was but a single by-election contest taking place on Thursday 23rd August, a town council contest in Westhoughton, just outside of Bolton. Here’s our special report on our gain from Labour in Hosker and Hart Common.
This second by-election in Westhoughton (the first, in Chequerbent ward, was an Independent gain from Labour on July 26th) was, almost unbelievably, also caused by a Labour councillor’s failure to attend any meetings for six months. The fact that two local Labour councillors had been disqualified for non-attendance within the space of a month gifted the local Lib Dem team an early campaigning issue and showed through on the doorstep, as known Labour supporters voiced their anger at being so blatantly taken for granted. Labour fought hard, with six leaflets across the campaign, but the predictability of their attacks made rebuttal, and pre-buttal, material easy enough to produce and draw the sting.
Our candidate was David Wilkinson, an experienced local councillor who lost his seat on Bolton MBC after more than twenty years’ service in May. David has a great local track record and reputation, so the messaging focus was positive. In addition to six Focus leaflets, in black-and-white A4, there were two direct mail campaigns – one a blanket series of letters to all residents bar confirmed Labour supporters, and separate mailings to the postal voter pool, with a supporters’ message and Tory squeeze. There was outside support in the form of John Leech MP and the Manchester Liberal Democrats, whose team of seven polished off the final polling week Focus over the course of a day. The margin of victory was emphatic, fifty-nine per cent of the vote for David was twice the Labour tally, and the Conservatives were well-squeezed in third place. A well-deserved win for a hard-working team.
Finally, a quick reminder that the G8 grants scheme for this year closes for applications on Monday 3rd September. Ward with elections in 2014 could get financial assistance this year and next if they apply before Monday. Any county or unitary teams with fights in 2013 should visit the ALDC website as soon as possible and make sure that they are taking full advantage of the help available.
Congratulations to David and the Westhoughton team, and the very best of luck to our candidates and campaigners out in the field.
Craig Whittallcraig.whittall@aldc.org