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Thurston by-election triumph

Austin Davies

On 17th February the Green Party won the Thurston Ward District  by-election by a massive margin. 

Our candidate, Austin Davies, won the by-election with 845 votes, more than double the Conservatives’ 399 votes, with Labour and the LibDems trailing far behind.

The by-election was triggered by our previous councillor, Wendy Turner, moving away from the area. The ward covers the villages of Beyton, Norton, Stowlangtoft, Thurston and Tostock – it is a ‘two seat’ ward which was held by Wendy and a Conservative.

Prior to the by-election, the political balance at Mid Suffolk District Council was evenly split, between a Conservative + Independent Group (16 + 1) and the Green and LibDem Group (12 + 5), so we expected a strong challenge from the Conservatives.

This was an extremely well-run campaign with a great local candidate. The result made it clear that local residents really wanted someone to listen to them and work for them. 

The by-election was triggered by Wendy Turner, our councillor, moving away from the area.  The Ward, covers the villages of Beyton, Norton, Stowlangtoft, Thurston and Tostock, and is a “two seat” ward which was held by Wendy and a Conservative.  Prior to the by-election the political balance at Mid Suffolk was evenly split, a Conservative and Independent Group (16 + 1)and the Green and Libdem Group (12 + 5 ) so we expected a strong challenge from the Conservatives.

The result was that our candidate, Austin Davies, won the by-election with 845 votes, more than double the Conservatives 399 votes, with Labour and LibDems trailing far behind.

This was an extremely well-run campaign with a great local candidate and showed that local residents really wanted someone to listen to them and work for them.