Lib Dems win in the Saints!

4.15.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 5th May 2006

Sue Gadsby doubled her majority

Lib Dem candidates in St Mark's and St John's wards won convincingly in Thursday's Rushmoor Borough Council Elections.

In St John's ward, Sue Gadsby doubled the majority she achieved in her remarkable by-election win last November, from 77 to 153. Conservatives had confidently predicted that the by-election was a flash in the pan and that the ward would return to the Conservatives this time.

Alistair Mackie won convincingly at his third attempt

In St Mark's ward, Alistair Mackie succeeded at his third attempt, and did so in style, with an impressive 133 majority. In 2003 Alistair missed winning by just 14 votes. Then in 2004 he missed again - by just 12 votes! This time there was no doubt about the result.

Rushmoor's Lib Dem Group Leader Cllr Craig Card comfortably held his Mayfield seat with a majority of 287. Meanwhile Jo Murphy was narrowly defeated in West Heath by just 13 votes. West Heath has a record of close results, being won or lost 7 times in the past 12 years by less than 70.

Lib Dem Leader Craig Card held Mayfield with a majority of 287

The overall make-up of Rushmoor Borough Council is now:

25 Conservative

10 Liberal Democrat

5 Labour

2 Independent