Yet Another Lib Dem Victory in Hampshire

11.09.20am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 3rd Dec 2004

The Liberal Democrats stormed to victory to win yet another key Hampshire county council by-election in Havant last night from third place with a dramatic 33 per cent swing.

The Liberal Democrats snatched the fourth safest Labour county division - Battins and Bondfield - once held by a former Labour leader, and pushed the Conservatives from second to third place.

Hampshire MEP Chris Huhne said the by-election was particularly significant as it closely followed another storming Liberal Democrat victory in Abbey ward, Romsey last week. "These results are great news for our efforts in Hampshire in the county council elections and the general election next year" he said.

Mr Huhne said the result was a blow for the Conservatives' hopes of regaining ground in Hampshire as they slumped to third place following their defeat in a straight fight with the Liberal Democrats in Romsey last week.

"The size of this swing is extraordinary. With both the Labour and Conservative votes sharply down, it would mean that the Liberal Democrats would win every parliamentary seat in Hampshire if it was repeated at a general election" said Mr Huhne.

"It confirms that the Liberal Democrats are the only political party gaining ground as we enter the final straight before the general election".

Ann Buckley (Lib Dem) is the new county councillor with 978 votes to Labour's 433 and the Conservatives 285. The Greens won 33 votes.