Liberal Democrats celebrate triumph in Nonsuch by-election

10.40.00am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 3rd Jul 2009

Paul Burstow, MP for Sutton and Cheam, is celebrating with the borough's Liberal Democrats after their candidate, Gerry Jerome, won a decisive victory in the Nonsuch by-election.

In Thursday's election the Conservatives lost the seat to the Liberal Democrats who achieved a 5% vote swing away from the Tories, to secure 50% of the vote.

The result follows on from last months European elections which saw the Lib Dems vote increase while both the Conservative and Labour share of the vote go down. Gerry joins his wife Kirsty and colleague Roger Roberts as councillors for Nonsuch ward.

Commenting on his result Gerry Jerome said:

'I am grateful to the people who voted for me. The result demonstrates that people like having a Liberal Democrat Council and a Liberal Democrat MP working for them.

'Now it's down to work: getting action on Victoria House, pressing Mayor Johnson to get Central Road moving and working hard for everyone in Worcester Park and North Cheam.'

With the Conservatives failing to hold the seat Paul Burstow hailed the result as a further sign of Lib Dem momentum:

'The reception on the doorsteps was very positive. People like the way the Lib Dem Council is running the borough. The voters have spoken: Liberal Democrat going up, the Tories going down and Labour out of the race.'