Labour romps to victory in a by-election that saw the BNP finish last.
Newly elected Labour councillor Syed Ahammad took 1,555 votes in the by-election for Longbridge Ward, Barking, held tonight in the wake of the sudden death of Cllr Nirmal Gill earlier this year.
Mr Ahammad’s nearest rival was Ukip candidate Bert Bedwell, who claimed 466 votes, echoing results from recent county council and mayoral elections across the country and confirming the party’s increasing popularity.
Third with 284 votes was Conservative candidate Paul Ayer, fourth was Liberal Democrats candidates Dave Croft with 78 votes and last was BNP candidate Giuseppe De Santis with 37 votes.
Less than a third of the 8,185 eligible voters turned out cast their vote at three polling stations within the ward before the count was completed at Dagenham Civic Centre once polls shut at 10pm.
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