Cllr Paul Swaddle is the Conservative Group Leader of Westminster City Council. In his regular Monday morning update, Cllr Swaddle welcomed newly-elected Cllr Tim Barnes to the Council.
Paul explains,
Last Thursday, voters in Westminster's West End rejected Westminster Labour and elected Conservative Tim Barnes to be their local representative. I am delighted that my colleague Tim, who served as a councillor between 2018 and 2022, gained this seat from Labour with a near 10% swing.
Tim secured 49% of the vote, Labour 38%, the Greens 7% and the LibDems 6% - showing that the Conservatives are the only effective opposition to Labour here.
As Tim said on Thursday night,
“We have seen a big swing to the Conservatives in this by-election, and it really feels like it is part of a wider move and change of tide.
“Local people told us they were unhappy with Labour’s letting them down in Westminster and across London under the Mayor.
“Failings on crime, management of e-bikes, and the astonishing recent announcement on Oxford Street pedestrianisation that rides roughshod over local democracy were all factors that were mentioned to us on the doorstep.
“I will now be picking these up and working to get them resolved when the current Labour councillors seem unwilling to criticise their party colleagues even when they know things are not working.”
Rest assured, my Conservative colleagues at Westminster City Council are committed to holding this failing Labour-led Council to account, and to make the case for a Westminster that works for everyone who lives, works or visits our City.
Best wishes,
Cllr Paul Swaddle
Leader, Westminster Conservative Group
PS: Hundreds of people have already backed our campaign calling on the Labour-run Council to stand up to the Government and rethink their plans to transfer powers to the Sadiq Khan to manage Oxford Street. If you share our concerns about Oxford Street pedestrianisation, sign our petition today!
