Liberal Democrats triumph in Devon by-election

Liberal Democrat Adrian Sanders has been swept into office as the new councillor for Clifton with Maidenway ward on Torbay Council after winning over two-thirds of the vote in a by-election held yesterday. Adrian, who was the MP for Torbay until the General Election, stood as the candidate in his home ward after the sad death of Ruth Pentney.

Adrian won with 1,096 votes, ahead of the Conservative candidate on 235. UKIP came third with 158, followed by Labour on 53 and the Green candidate on 43.

Commenting, Hugh Janes, who chairs the Lib Dem local party in Plymouth, said, "This is a smashing victory. Adrian won with a massive share of the vote, and I wholeheartedly congratulate him. The Lib Dems took a hammering nationwide back in May but we're now right back in it.

"I am particularly pleased because several Plymouth Lib Dems went over to Torbay to help. With such a vast margin of victory I don't think I can say we made the difference between victory and defeat, but it was a great pleasure to help our friends on the English Riviera. I hope a little of their magic will rub off on us as we approach next year's city council elections here in Plymouth."