Labour councillor 'delighted' with win

12:32am Friday 18th July 2008

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THERE were few surprises this evening as the result of the Townfield by-election was announced.

Tony Eginton held the seat for Labour, gaining 1,031 of the votes ahead of the Lib Dem candidate Roy Chamdal.

Mr Eginton, after his victory speech, said: "I am delighted that Hayes has recognised the best candidate for the job.

"We have run a fair campaign and have not attacked other candidates except when they have made comments about us."

He promised to push the council hard, and pledged to help fellow Labour politicians and the Hayes community improve the annual carnival, which became a political football during the campaign.

The Tories were beaten into third place with 445 votes, and Councillor Ray Puddifoot, leader of the council, said he was not pleased some votes went to the National Front.

He said: "We are disappointed to lose votes to the National Front.

"But in all other respects, the result doesn't make one iota of difference to Hillingdon Council."

He did, however, congratulate Cllr Eginton and said he believes the chartered accountant would bring much needed business knowledge to the Labour group.

Councillor Mike Cox, leader of the Lib Dems on the council, said Labour's victory owed a lot to the work of Councillor Norman Nunn-Price, whose death triggered the by-election.

He said: "This was a testament to Norman that the Labour vote held up so well.

"But we have had a fantastic result, and the Tories knew they were going nowhere."

Councillor Eginton will take his seat on the council, and says the fact he does not live in the ward should not matter.

He said: "I have already shown my involvement with my school governorship and sitting on the community trust.

"I am now looking forward to trying to make the council work for the people of Hayes."

The full results of the Townfield by-election are: Tony Eginton (Lab): 1,031.

Roy Chamdal (Lib Dem): 506.

Kashmir Pahal (Cons): 445.

Denis MacDonald (BNP): 186.

Andrew Cripps (National Front): 74.

Catriona Corfield (Green): 33.