Historic LibDem breakthrough in K&C points to victory in Bayswater

10.46.30am BST (GMT +0100) Fri 24th Jul 2009

Newly-elected K&C councillor Carol Caruana signing official papers after her historic victory

Earlier this week Liberal Democrats in Kensington & Chelsea won their first ever seat on the local council. Newly-elected Councillor Carol Caruana will represent Colville ward, including the iconic Portobello Road.

Cllr Caruana won with 48 per cent of the vote - winning more votes than the Labour and Conservative candidates put together. There was a massive 18 per cent swing from Labour to the LibDems.

Colville borders Bayswater ward, in Westminster - just the other side of Ledbury Road. The LibDems in Bayswater need only a small swing - much less than that achieved in Colville - to take their first seat in Westminster.

Bayswater's LibDem parliamentary candidate Mark Blackburn said, "This is an historic win, and Cllr Caruana deserves heaps of praise. I helped with the campaign myself, and I know that she will make a first-class councillor for local people."

Robin Meltzer, who ran Carol's winning campaign, said, "We won the election so handsomely because, in Carol Caruana, we had a candidate who really did work tirelessly, for four years. It wasn't just a slogan we put in a Focus.

"The crushing result in Colville ends the cosy status quo in this part of London. It sends a powerful message to the other two parties - not just in Kensington & Chelsea but also in neighbouring Westminster - that the electorate are fed up of the old way of doing things.

"Carol knew her community, listened to it, and has been rewarded with the honour of representing it. I know she'll do a terrific job."

Mark continued, "Bayswater is next. Liberal Democrats here in Westminster will break through very soon."