Conservatives give Labour the blues

THE Tories triumphed in spectacular fashion in the New River ward council by-election in Stoke Newington yesterday (Thursday).

Conservative candidate Benzion Papier ,26, secured a thumping 560-vote majority over second-placed Labour.

It was a remarkable result as the party had only held onto the council seat in May’s town hall elections by a narrow 39-vote margin.

The victory proved even sweeter for the Tories because Labour had captured the ward’s two other seats from them in May and had been hopeful of grabbing the third.

The Greens and Liberal Democrats fared badly with both their candidates failing to reach more than double figures in votes polled.

result:

Jonathan Burke (Labour) 1007

Stuart Coggins (Greens) 77

Darren Fraser (Independent) 26

Ben Mathis (Lib Dems) 66

Benzion Papier (Conservative) 1567