Ringing Endorsement for Lib Dem Campaign for New Cinema

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Fri 5th Dec 2003

Voters in Newbury's Victoria Ward delivered a resounding vote of confidence in Liberal Democrat-run West Berkshire Council and its decision to go ahead with a new cinema, when they voted in yesterday's by-election.

Liberal Democrat candidate Roger Hunneman had a majority of over 250 votes with the Conservative Candidate a poor second. The Liberal Democrat vote went up by 10% - from 662 in last May's Council elections to 727.

The Liberal Democrat success came after the Conservatives poured resources into the campaign, including a personal appeal to voters from their new leader Michael Howard. Even after the result was declared, their rejected candidate was voicing the Tories' doubts about whether the new cinema, championed by the Council, should go ahead.

Commenting, David Rendel MP said:

"This result is a ringing endorsement for the Liberal Democrats' determination to bring a cinema back to Newbury. I am amazed that the Tories continue to raise doubts about the cinema, even after their heavy defeat at the hands of the voters.

"The Council is delivering for local residents, while nationally the Liberal Democrats are leading the fight against the Council Tax and university top-up fees. Yesterday's result shows that these policies are popular with local residents."