Lib Dems storm to Crystal Palace victory

9.59.57pm BST (GMT +0100) Sun 9th Sep 2007

Cllr Tom Papworth and Cllr John Canvin

Liberal Democrat Tom Papworth won the Crystal Palace by-election last Thursday, at the end of a frenetic six weeks of election campaigning.

The new Liberal Democrat Councillor won 50% of the vote, increasing the Liberal Democrat share of the vote achieved in 2006. Cllr Tom Papworth will join Cllr John Canvin representing Crystal Palace Ward, after the death of long serving Chris Gaster in July.

Cllr Papworth paid tribute to his predecessor, saying, "It is a huge honour to have been elected to serve the people of Crystal Palace and follow Chris Gaster. He was hugely respected by local residents and I am determined to keep up his record of work locally. I am looking forward immensely to the work ahead of me."

The Liberal Democrat Leader in Bromley, Cllr David McBride, welcomed the result of the election, saying it was a huge boost to the party locally. "This was a hard fought campaign with Labour and the Tories desperate to win. To increase our share of the vote is tremendous for us in Bromley and also in the new parliamentary seat of Lewisham West and Penge, where Labour must now be under threat."