Lib Dems win Cambridge City Council seat after by-election
It's after the resignation of Independent councillor Sam Davies
The Liberal Democrats have celebrated winning the latest by-election at Cambridge City Council.
Councillor Imogene Blackburn-Horgan, known as Immy Blackburn-Horgan, beat the other candidates to win the Queen Edith’s seat at the by-election on November 23.
The by-election saw a turnout of 32.3 per cent, with Cllr Blackburn-Horgan receiving 745 votes. The next nearest candidate – Thomas Ron representing the Labour Party – received 678 votes.
Cllr Blackburn-Horgan will represent the Queen Edith’s ward alongside fellow Liberal Democrat councillors, Councillor Daniel Lee and Councillor Karen Young.
The win means the Liberal Democrats increase their share of councillors at the authority, remaining the largest opposition party with 11 councillors.
Councillor Cheney Payne, who is also the Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate for Cambridge, said: “Immy is already a huge force for good in her community and now across Cambridge too. The Cambridge Liberal Democrats city group is so thrilled she will be joining us.”
The by-election was called after the former independent councillor Sam Davies announced her resignation last month.
Ms Davies, who had represented the ward since her election in May 2021, said she would be stepping down due to a family decision to move away from Cambridge, adding it had been a “great privilege” to serve people in the Queen Edith’s ward.
Following the announcement of the by-election results, Ms Davies congratulated the winning candidate. She said: “I wish Immy all the very best for her term of office. Congratulations to all the candidates for a well-fought campaign.”
Full breakdown of the by-election results:
Imogene Blackburn-Horgan, Liberal Democrat – 745, Elected
David Carmona, Conservative – 454
Oliver Edward Fisher, Green Party – 252
Thomas Ron, Labour Party – 678
Current make-up of Cambridge City Council:
Labour – 25 councillors
Liberal Democrats – 11 councillors
Green Party – four councillors
Conservative – one councillor
Independent – one councillor