The Conservative and Labour candidates for the Knaresborough Scriven Park by-election have said they are disappointed following the result.
Liberal Democrat Hannah Gostlow won the seat last night, beating Conservative Jaqui Renton by 251 votes.
A by-election was held after former Conservative councillor Samantha Mearns resigned from Harrogate Borough Council due to family reasons.
Both Ms Renton and Sharon-Theresa Calvert, Labour candidate, said they were disappointed with the results and thanked voters who turned out in support of them.
Afterwards, Ms Renton said:
“Hannah was a good candidate, I worked hard, but she worked hard as well and the result has happened.
“This election has been interesting and a good experience. I have met a lot of lovely people during the campaign which I thoroughly enjoyed.
“A lot of people voted for me as well which is wonderful. Thank you so much to those, I’m so grateful, and also thank you to the staff who have run the count tonight.”
Ms Theresa Calvert, who received 91 votes, said:
“It is disappointing but I know I ran a positive campaign – I had policies and forward thinking.
“I want to give a big thank you to those people who came out and voted for me.”
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Meanwhile, Ms Gostlow said she was delighted to win the seat:
“We are really pleased as a party – and I’m really pleased to have this opportunity to step up to the borough council.
“I want to thank residents for their support and encouragement throughout our campaign.
“I will continue my work to make Knaresborough a wonderful community, campaign to protect our green spaces and also push for sustainable transport.”
The results in full were:
- Hannah Gostlow, Liberal Democrats – 635
- Jaqui Renton, Conservative – 384
- Sharon-Theresa Calvert, Labour Party – 91
- Harvey Alexander, UKIP – 11
Voter turnout was 31% (1,124 votes) and there were two spoiled ballots.
Ms Gostlow’s victory means there are now 30 Conservatives, eight Liberal Democrats, and two independent councillors on Harrogate Borough Council.
