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http://www.getsurrey.co.uk/news/s/2130927_ukip_wins_surrey_council_seat_for_first_time

UKIP wins Surrey council seat for first time

By David Stubbings 

March 15, 2013

The UK Independence Party has won its first council seat in Surrey after Chris Browne triumphed in the Foxhills by-election in Runnymede, although the Tories described the result as a "one-off".

Councillor Browne admitted he was "stunned" after beating Conservative candidate Barry Pitt into second place on Thursday night, in the process overturning a 24% deficit suffered by UKIP in the 2012 local elections.

The party already has one member on Surrey County Council, but this came after Cllr Ian Lake defected from the Tories to UKIP earlier this year.

A UKIP spokesman confirmed: "This is the first time we have won in Surrey straight."

Only 18 votes separated Cllr Browne and Mr Pitt - 336 votes for UKIP (40%) and 318 for the Conservatives (38%). Labour's John Gurney came third with 181 votes (21%).

When asked for his reaction to the result, Cllr Browne said: "Stunned. I suspected it was a possibility but thought it would be more of a close-run thing rather than a win.

"I don't know who was more shocked, me or the Conservatives."

Cllr Browne is now the only Runnymede Borough Council member to represent a national party other than the Tories, who have 35 councillors. There are also six Runnymede Independent Residents' Group councillors.

The Tories described the result as "disappointing" after seeing a 24% lead in 2012 dramatically reversed into a 2% deficit.

Cllr Paul Tuley, chairman of the Chertsey Town Conservative Association, said: "We are happy to admit a disappointing evening, losing a ward we have held for many many years.

"I think in future elections we wouldn't see UKIP being as successful. I think it will very much be a one-off."

Labour Party member Lee Godfrey said the stagnation of their vote in the ward was not a cause for concern.

"We are strategically focused on Chertsey," he said.

"If circumstances were different and this election was in September along with the other two by-elections, we could have made an impact."

The Foxhills by-election was called following the death of former Tory councillor Frances Barden in December.

The council said turnout was 19.41% with a total of 838 votes cast.

Subject: UKIP WIN! - By-election result.

Politics List

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Foxhills Ward of Runnymede Borough Council.

 

UKIP - 336 Christopher Browne

 

Conservative - 318

 

Labour - 181