Crushing By-Election Win Evidence of Lib Dem's Appeal to the Voters of Broadland

9.00.00pm GMT Fri 6th Mar 2009

As reported in the EDP: "Liberal Democrat and Conservative party bosses were yesterday analysing an astonishing swing of votes in a Norfolk council by-election which could change the perception of the county's newest Westminster seat. The Lib Dems moved from third place and less than 21pc of the vote in the Broadland District Council Buxton ward in 2007 to a win and more than 71pc of the vote following a by-election on Thursday.

Away from the immediate local impact, both Tories and Lib Dems said they would look at the figures closely with regard to the next general election and the newly formed Broadland parliamentary seat, as well as impending county council and European elections."

Ed Foss goes on to report that the Tory candidate for the Broadland seat, Keith Simpson, would be 'drawing lessons', but given that his party has little to offer other than the promise of cuts in spending and services it seems unlikely that the message from voters will get through.

Instead Simpson points to the 'extenuating circumstances' of 'local issues', as if the concerns of Buxton's electorate were some temporary aberration rather than, as seems more likely, a growing disenchantment with the policies on offer from Labour (who decided it wasn't even worth fielding a candidate) or the Tories.

Lib Dem campaigner Simon Drage saw the result as a great boost to the prospects of Lib the Dems in the General Election; as April commented: "We are working hard and that's starting to show." North Norfolk MP Norman Lamb pointed to the "knock on" effect the result could have on Lib Dem support in the region..

Result : Barbara Rix (Lib Dem): 555; Ian Evans (Con) 201; Nick Ball (Greens) 22