LibDem Irfan Mustafa wins Redbridge Council seat from fourth place

7.09.11pm UTC (GMT +0000) Sat 11th Nov 2006

Redbridge's Liberal Democrat team: Cllr Ralph Scott, newly elected Cllr Irfan Mustafa, Cllr Farrukh Islam, Cllr Richard Hoskins

Redbridge Liberal Democrats have shocked rivals by winning a long-held Labour council seat from fourth place.

The contest, in Clementswood ward, was called after a Labour councillor died. The seat had been Labour held since as far back as 1962. Back in May, the LibDem candidate had only managed 4th place.

LibDem candidate Irfan Mustafa's campaign focused on a threatened local hospital closure, the highest crime rate in the borough, Labour's failure to look after the ward, and sending a message to Tony Blair that he had to go now.

Voters delivered a massive 27% swing to the LibDems, with Labour's vote cut in half since May.

Cllr Mustafa's election win brings the number of LibDem councillors on Redbridge Council to 10.