Westminster has a new tradition on Friday mornings: analysing council by-election results. These days, such contests rarely make for good reading for Keir Starmer, with Labour now losing votes to every other parties across the country. Two council wards were of particular note this week. The first in Longdendale, Tameside in Greater Manchester saw Reform storm to victory with 47 per cent of the vote, with Labour’s share collapsing to just 25 per cent. Watch out Ange….
But it was another contest in the nation’s capital that caught Steerpike’s eye. For on the same night that Labour was shedding votes up north, they were losing a safe seat down south too – in David Lammy’s backyard of Haringey. In the London ward of St Ann’s, the Starmer army suffered a landslide defeat at the hands of the Greens. Eco-warrior Ruairidh Paton triumphed here with 55.4 per cent of the vote, while Labour only mustered 30.8 per cent. Quite the feat in a left-leaning ward which has been staunchly red since its creation….
The victory comes after the resignation of Councillor Tammy Hymas, who quit in frustration at the Labour government’s handling of local authority funding, arguing it forced the council to make harmful cuts. Speaking after his victory, Paton declared that:
This isn’t just possible in Haringey. Greens and socialists can win across the country. It’ll be either us or Reform who capture the mood. It’s time to get to work.
Keirleaders can take some comfort from the fact that turnout was less than 29 per cent – but the margin of the Green victory will spook some certainly. As journalist and local resident Hamish Morrison pointed out: ‘The streets were positively swarming with Labour canvassers last night when I went out to cast my ballot. They looked worried – turns out with good reason.’
So much for a Labour safe seat eh?
Comments