Gloucester: Rebecca Trimnell
Rebecca Trimnell selected by the Liberal Democrats for vital Westgate by-election
Local resident Rebecca Trimnell is the challenger to the Conservatives in Westgate
13 Feb 2023
Liberal Democrat Rebecca Trimnell wins Westgate by-election
31 Mar 2023
The Liberal Democrats are celebrating electing their 12th councillor in Gloucester after Rebecca Trimnell won the Westgate by-election.
Rebecca saw her share of the vote increase 16% on a 12.5% swing to win the seat on Thursday night following the resignation earlier this year of a Conservative councillor.
The Conservatives fell to second place following the Liberal Democrat surge while the Labour Party remained in third.
The result in full:
Rebecca Trimnell (Liberal Democrat) 658 (43%, +15%) ELECTED
Conservative 455 (30%, -10%)
Labour 351 (23%, +3%)
Reform 37 (2.4%, new)
Monster Raving Loony 22 (1.4%. new)
There was a swing of 12.5% to the Liberal Democrats from the Conservatives.
Councillor Rebecca Trimnell said: “I am delighted with the result and shows the good people of Westgate want to see real change happen in the place they call home.
“This was seen at the ballot box and shows both the Conservatives and Labour that the Liberal Democrats are the future to a renewed and rejuvenated Gloucester.
“Westgate is a big ward with many separate communities resulting of course in different issues and concerns.
“Over the next 12 months, I want to connect with these communities and work on finding solutions to the issues that matter.
“In going forward we have a strong Liberal Democrat Team now on the city council with 12 Councillors.
“The fight is to take control and replicate the result that was seen in Westgate.”
The Liberal Democrats now have 12 councillors, while the Conservatives have 22, Labour are on three and there are two independents. The Conservative majority has been cut to five.
The Westgate win is the latest by-election which the Liberal Democrats have either won or nearly won in the city in the last few years.
The party won Barnwood from the Conservatives and Podsmead from Labour in 2019, won Longlevens from the Conservatives in 2021 and were just 15 votes from winning the Tuffley by-election last year from the Conservatives.
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