Green Party Celebrates Unexpected Victory in Stoke Newington By-Election
The Green Party is in jubilant spirits following a stunning victory in the Stoke Newington ward by-election, where Liam Davis emerged as the winner with an impressive 53 per cent of the vote. The triumph came as a surprise to many, as it marked a significant 19-point swing away from the ruling Labour party, whose candidate Zak Davies-Khan secured second place with 40 per cent of the votes.
Results and Turnout
The Liberal Democrats trailed behind in third place with 3.3 per cent of the vote, closely followed by the Conservative party at 3.1 per cent. Independent candidate Tan Bui garnered a mere 0.5 per cent share of the votes. The overall turnout for the by-election stood at 20.35 per cent, with a total of 2,362 votes cast.
Liam Davis expressed his gratitude towards the residents who placed their trust in him, stating, “I couldn’t be more grateful to every resident who’s given me their vote, and I will stay and work hard to prove to them that no vote has been taken for granted.” He acknowledged the challenges of winning a by-election in London, highlighting the Greens’ 16-year dry spell in such victories. Davis also reiterated his commitment to addressing key campaign issues such as housing conditions, budget cuts, and the ethical divestment of council pension funds.
Coalition Building and Future Goals
In a strategic move, the Greens formed an alliance with the Independent Socialists, who threw their support behind Davis as part of an electoral pact. The coalition’s shared objective is to unseat the Conservatives as the largest opposition group within the council. The Independent Socialist Group lauded Davis for capitalizing on the prevailing discontent to secure the Stoke Newington seat for the Greens.
Fellow Green councillor Zoë Garbett commended Davis’s hard work and dedication, stating, “And just like that, there were three! Thank you everyone in Stoke Newington who voted for Liam Davis. I know how hard he will work.” The outcome of the by-election solidifies the Greens’ presence in the local political landscape and sets the stage for further collaboration and progress within the council.
The complete breakdown of the election results is as follows:
– Liam Davis, Green, 1,253 votes;
– Zak Davies-Khan, Labour, 945 votes;
– Thrusie Maurseth-Cahill, Liberal Democrat, 78 votes;
– Tareke Jay Antonio Gregg, Conservative, 74 votes;
– Tan Bui, Independent, 12 votes.
As the Green Party savors their triumph in Stoke Newington, they are poised to leverage this success to champion their progressive agenda and bring about positive change in the community. Liam Davis’s resounding victory serves as a testament to the power of grassroots mobilization and the unwavering commitment of dedicated individuals to effect meaningful transformation in local politics.