Lib Dem Louise Harris WINS South Glos Dodington ward by-election

Congratulations to Louise Harris, who has won the South Glos by-election for the Dodington ward by a very convincing margin, after a very hard-fought campaign.

The full results are as follows:

• HARRIS Louise - Liberal Democrat Focus Team    693 votes (49.3%)
• LIVERMORE Ian - Conservative    554 votes (39.4%)
• MALONE John - Labour    158 votes (11.2%)

New Tory election tactic - distracting drivers near accident sites

Local residents have complained to the police about Conservative volunteers in the Dodington by-election distracting traffic near the sites of road traffic fatalities during this morning's rush hour.

One resident said "There was a group of people waving Conservative banners at passing cars, right on the busy junction opposite the entrance to the Centre (one of the polling stations). They're being a real nuisance distraction to drivers"

This was along the road from a recent road traffic fatality, and not far from where the Tory candidate and the Tory MP stood for a road safety publicity photo the other day:

What's more, they were also waving banners in the middle of the dual carriageway near the other polling station - not very far from where another person was killed in a road accident a couple of years ago.

Is it a case of "Do what I say, not what I do?"

South Glos by-election radio interview - Tory fails to show up

Radio Bristol did a live broadcast from Abbotswood this morning about the by-election for the South Glos by-election for the Dodington seat (Shire Way and Abbotswood areas). 

The Tory candidate was invited but didn't turn up - the interviewer speculated that possibly the Conservative didn't want to answer searching questions.

Liberal Democrat Focus Team candidate Louise Harris came over very well. The Labour candidate took part too. There was a good discussion about what opposition councillors can achieve, and Louise made some very good points.

You can hear these two candidates on BBC Radio Bristol's website - the interview was on the Emma Britton show (31/10/2018) starting at about 2 hours 7 minutes in.