The Liberal Democrats are celebrating a by-election victory in North Yorkshire.
Dan Sladden was declared the winner of the Sowerby and Topcliffe ward after the count on Thursday night, beating the Greens into third, with the Conservatives finishing second and Labour fourth.
Anti-Conservative pressure group Compass had insisted the Tories would regain Sowerby and Topcliffe if the Lib Dems, Labour and other parties refused to stand aside for the Green Party which had narrowly won the division in 2022.
At the last council elections in May last year, Dave Whitfield, of the Green Party, stood as the sole candidate to challenge the Conservative candidate, Mark Robson, Sowerby Parish Council’s chairman and the leader of Hambleton Parish Council, and secured the seat by 81 votes.
But Lib Dems said they “knew from day one” they were best placed to beat the Conservatives after selecting local reverend Dan Sladden for the contest.
The by-election was triggered by the resignation of Cllr Whitfield on health grounds.
Church of England reverend Dan – who sings professionally with York Minster and Ripon Cathedral choirs – said: “I’m so honoured by this result.
“It’s been an absolute pleasure meeting so many residents over the last few weeks and that they turned out to vote Lib Dem in such numbers is humbling.”
The father-of-five – who lives in Sowerby with his family – added: “Last year, Dave Whitfield managed to show that this area is no longer a Conservative stronghold.
“I want to build on the hope that Dave initiated and work toward a better future for Sowerby and Topcliffe with my fellow residents.
“I am truly humbled by the faith they have put in me at the ballot box and I look forward to serving as their councillor with the official opposition Lib Dems on North Yorkshire Council.”
Fellow Thirsk and Malton Lib Dem councillor Steve Mason – who represents nearby Amotherby and Ampleforth division – said: “People on the doorsteps told me they felt let down by the Conservatives both locally and nationally and that Dan’s kindness and integrity shone through.
“We knew from day one Dan would make an excellent councillor for his local area and the people of Sowerby and Topcliffe decided for themselves.
“North Yorkshire Council is stronger with this result and I’m looking forward to sitting alongside Dan and holding the Conservatives to account together.”
Campaign group Compass York & North Yorkshire – which proposes a ‘progressive alliance’ of left-wing parties to beat the Conservatives – had publicly called on the Lib Dems and Labour to withdraw their candidates, writing to the leaders of both parties and launching a public petition calling on them to withdraw from the election.
Dan Sladden took 41.5 per cent of the votes in the by-election yesterday.
The turnout was 29.27 per cent, with 1,838 votes cast from an electorate of 6,279.
The full results were:
- Dave Elders, The Conservative Party: 460 votes.
- Stew Exotic, The Official Monster Raving Loony Party: 20 votes.
- John Philip Hall, The Yorkshire Party: 35 votes.
- John Timothy Law, The Green Party: 306 votes.
- Dan Sladden, The Liberal Democrat Party: 764 votes (elected).
- Helen Kathleen Tomlinson, The Labour Party: 250 votes.
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