Liberal Democrat by-election win in Calderdale

The Calderdale Council seat of Warley in Halifax now has a new Liberal Democrat Councillor in the shape of businessman and long term LibDem and No2ID activist James Baker. James lives just outside Warley with his partner and six month old son and co-runs a printing company in Hebden Bridge which specialises in working for charities. On Thursday 19 July there was a council by-election in Warley in Halifax, Calderdale. The by-election was called due to the resignation of a Lib Dem councillor due to health reasons. Warley has traditionally been a straight fight between the LibDems and the Tories, but this changed in May this year, when (for the first time in years), Labour managed to win a Council seat, just pipped James at the post with 113 votes more. James had worked very hard in Warley both campaigning and helping to find solutions to local issues like some missing war memorial plaques and local bus services, so I was disappointed that he was not elected in May. It was therefore good news that James agreed to be the by-election candidate as he could build on his previous good work. I was able to help out a few times during the by-election including on polling day and the mood on the door was good; many residents recognised the efforts that James had made to serve the Warley community and recalled that the Liberal Democrats had a history of hard working local councillors who stood up for the area. The final results were: James Baker, Liberal Democrat 1066 votes (elected) Jonathan Timbers, Labour 896 votes Christopher Pearson, Conservative, 454 votes Charles Gate, Green, 140 votes Well done James! Links: http://www.calderdalelibdems.org.uk/2012/07/warley-ward-triumph/ http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-leeds-18925579 http://www.halifaxcourier.co.uk/news/local/lib-dems-hold-on-in-warley-by-election-1-4757746 http://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/lib-dems-triumph-in-west-yorkshire-byelection-7961870.html