News from Westminster Labour

Labour landslide in Westminster’s Queen’s Park by-election

11 per cent swing to Labour as Conservatives get their lowest vote for over 100 years.

Labour’s Patricia McAllister has won the Queen’s Park ward by-election in Westminster with an 11 per cent swing from the Conservatives. The by-election, held following the sad death of Councillor Mushtaq Qureshi in October, is one of Labour’s best results in London this year.

The by-election saw the worst numerical vote for any Conservative candidate in Queen’s Park ward since 1903. The previous worst vote was 221 for the bottom Candidate candidate in 1974.

The result:
Patricia McAllister, Labour: 814 votes – 62.6 per cent;
Conservative: 211 votes – 16.2 per cent;
Green: 152 votes – 11.7 per cent;
Lib Dem: 123 votes – 9.5 per cent.

Labour majority – 603 votes

The Labour percentage vote, 62.6 per cent, was the highest in Queen’s Park since Councillor Paul Dimoldenberg’s 1997 by-election victory.

Councillor Dimoldenberg said:

“This is a fantastic result for Labour’s Patricia McAllister and is all down to her hard work and that of Karen Buck MP and the Labour team. This is also a fitting tribute to the late Councillor Mushtaq Qureshi to whom we dedicate this brilliant result.”

“This is a firm foundation on which to build Labour’s General Election and Council Election campaign running up to next May. The Queen’s Park result is a massive endorsement of Karen Buck’s record as an outstanding Member of Parliament and Labour Councillors’ commitment to representing local residents’ views.”

“The Conservatives threw everything at this by election and were rewarded with their lowest vote for over 100 years. This result says everything you need to know about what people think of Westminster Conservatives.”

Councillor Qureshi’s children, Murad and Papya, were at the declaration of the result and they expressed their family’s delight that their father’s political legacy had brought such a decisive Labour victory.

Councillor Papya Qureshi said:

“The Qureshi family are extremely happy and proud of Patricia, for keeping our father’s memory alive by keeping Queen’s Park Labour. She has worked hard and will continue to do so for all in Queen’s Park just like Mushtaq did. We wish her the best and look forward to supporting her in her new role.”

Other news from Westminster Labour

• Labour's five point plan for fairer parking in Westminster - 15 March 2010
• 5-star dinner as Westminster's "Dinosaur" Conservatives axe hotlines - 12 March 2010
• Westminster Labour welcomes dog micro-chipping plan - 11 March 2010