Council leader Margaret Parker unseated by three votes

May 2 2008 by Rebecca Edwards, Chester Chronicle

COUNCIL Leader Margaret Parker has lost her seat by three votes, despite a landslide Tory victory.

The Mickle Trafford Conservative Councillor who was standing in the Hoole and Newton ward for the new West Cheshire Council failed to get re-elected despite a dramatic recount.

She gained 1,545 votes, the same as Liberal Democrat candidate Ruth Chidlow and a handful of votes away from Liberal Democrat David Hull.

Conservative Councillors John Ebo and Adrian Walmsley were elected with 1,706 and 1,604 votes respectively and Bob Thompson (Liberal Democrats) was also elected with 1,548 votes.

Announcement of the ward results was delayed until 4pm on Friday after a re-count was held to check the close result.

Counters then checked and double checked the papers. Eleven papers were rejected in the ward.

After hearing she had lost, Cllr Parker said: “It was worth pursuing the count. I am proud of my achievements, I only lost by three votes and I have only been working in Hoole for two months against Lib Dems who have been sitting there for as many years as I have been a councillor. That is a fantastic achievement and I am very proud of my group.”

Cllr Park said she will continue to lead Chester City Council and represent Mickle Trafford ward until the council is disbanded in April 2009.

She added: “Work will continue. We have made our manifesto commitments and we won’t stop now.

“I will be back in the next election in 2011. I believe there will be boundary changes probably going back to single member wards and you might see me again.”

Cllr Thompson, who narrowly beat Cllr Parker to the seat in the shadow council, said: “I don’t really take great pleasure in people getting beaten in elections. Anyone who stands for public service deserves admiration.”