Election success for Liberal Democrats

Epping councillor Jon Whitehouse has thanked local residents for their support after winning re-election to Epping Forest District Council. He successfully defended his Epping Hemnall seat with a majority of 407 votes. The full result, announced at Debden Park School yesterday, was:

• Liberal Democrats (Jon Whitehouse) - 1,026 (57%)
• Conservative - 619 (34%)
• Labour - 160 (9%)

Turnout: 37%

Jon said: "I am proud to have been re-elected to represent Epping and Coopersale residents. I am very grateful for the support I have received. I know there is a lot of hard work ahead given the important decisions the council has to make. Local people rightly have high expectations and I will do my very best to meet them."

Epping Hemnall was the only Epping Forest seat the Liberal Democrats were defending. Elsewhere in the district the Liberal Democrats won second places in Chigwell Row (Joanne Alexander-Safre), Epping Lindsey and Thornwood Common (Cherry McCredie) and Theydon Bois (George Lund).

Full election results are on the district council website.

The Liberal Democrats had their best local elections performance for several years, making more gains in the English local elections than any other party.