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06
Dec 2022
Swinton estate owner to stand against Tories in key Masham by-election
Felicity Cunliffe-Lister, the Countess of Swinton, is to stand for the Liberal Democrats in the forthcoming by-election for Masham and Fountains on North Yorkshire County Council.
The by-election will be held following last month's death of the Conservative Margaret Atkinson, who had held the seat since 2013. Ms Atkinson was also chair of the county council and a councillor on Harrogate Borough Council.
The division is expected to be keenly contested. The Conservatives currently hold 47 of the 90 seats on the county council, giving them a slender majority of four. If they were to lose their majority would be reduced to two, meaning the loss of one more seat would see them relinquish overall control of the council.
Margaret Atkinson
When the Masham and Fountains seat was contested in May's local elections, Ms Atkinson was elected with 1,076 votes. Ms Cunliffe-Lister, who stood as an Independent, was second with 738 votes. relegating the Liberal Democrat Judith Hooper to third with 620 votes.
Read more:
- Kirkby Malzeard councillor Margaret Atkinson dies
- Plan to convert Edwardian chapel near Masham into home approved
Ms Cunliffe-Lister told the Stray Ferret she had decided to stand at late notice last time, adding:
She cited the cost of living crisis, the NHS, care homes and rural connectivity as key issues in the division.
The county council published a notice of vacancy for the division today. It said:
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