the result is in! We stood under the slogan 'make the bankers pay – defend jobs, public services and the environment'. Our result shows that where we put up a left fight we can win support. We need to build an alternative all over the country in order to build the resistance and challenge the major parties and the fascist BNP.
Kilian Bourke (Lib Dem) 34.4% 829
Chris Freeman (Labour) 20.46% 493
Tom Woodcock (Independent) 17.63 % 425
Phil Richards (Green) 12.32% 297
Sam Barker (Conservative) 11.2% 270
Marjorie Barr ((UKIP) 3.98% 96
Kilian Bourke (Lib Dem) 34.4% 829
Chris Freeman (Labour) 20.46% 493
Tom Woodcock (Independent) 17.63 % 425
Phil Richards (Green) 12.32% 297
Sam Barker (Conservative) 11.2% 270
Marjorie Barr ((UKIP) 3.98% 96
Congratulations, Tom!
A very impressive result - congratulations. It shows what is possible for socialists with principles and a strong local campaign.
Good result comrade - keep up the good work!
Tom, Firstly congratulations. A heartening result and one that needs more publicity. A question, however... was there any particular reason why you stood as an independent and not a socialist (I imagine it might be something to do with the restrictive electoral laws, no?). And also, do you think you might have been able to pick up more votes had you had a party title? It appears you held your vote from when you stood as RESPECT, which is brilliant. But I wonder whether a name offers more mileage.
If you are not regested as a party then the only option is to stand as an independent. We are working towards standing a slate of left candidates. See latest blog post.