Conservatives hold ward with a significantly reduced majority
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The results for the Thamesfield by-election on 9 November following the death of Mayor and Thamesfield councillor Jim Maddan OBE have been announced. Just before 11.00pm it was announced that Conservative candidate John Locker had been duly elected. The size of the party's majority was below that seen in the 2014 borough election with both Labour and the Liberal Democrats making gains.
Mr Locker told PutneySW15.com, "I am honoured to have been elected to represent Thamesfield ward as Councillor and would like to thank everyone who voted and took part in the democratic process. I'd also like to pay tribute to Jim Maddan. I hope to live up to his high standards of service to the community".
In the early hours of Friday (10) morning Justine Greening MP for Putney tweeted:
Congrats to new #Thamesfield Cllr @JohnLocker_UK. Fantastic result and he will make a great councillor for #Putney.
| Candidate | Party | Votes |
| LOCKER John | Conservative | 1,910 |
| Joins existing councillors: | ||
| RYDER, Michael John |
Conservative | |
| TORRINGTON, Rosemary Clare |
Conservative | |
| Candidates: | ||
| McCANN Di | Green Party | 275 |
| WARREN, Sally | Labour | 1,101 |
| MERCER, Ryan | Liberal Democrats | 619 |
| Electorate: 12,234 | Ballot Papers Issued: 3,913 | Turnout: 32% |
| 2014 results: Electorate: 12,056 |
Ballot Papers Issued: 4523 | Turnout: 37.52% |
Despite a larger electorate there were fewer ballot papers issued when compared with the last ward election in 2014. and the turn out was down from 37.52% to 32%. There were eight ballots papers rejected; 1 had more than one candidate marked and 7 were 'unmarked or wholly void for uncertainty'
Fellow Thamesfield Councillor Mike Ryder said: "Jim Maddan was a true champion of Putney, and I am delighted the voters have chosen John to succeed him. He will bring energy and enthusiasm and experience to the role, and I am absolutely delighted for him."
Councillor Rosemary Torrington welcomed John to the team: "I am so delighted that John was successful last night. He will bring strength and energy to the Thamesfield team and the Council with fresh ideas and valuable experience on transport and townscape matters. John is hard-working, very approachable and bright - the local community has made a good choice".
Cllr Simon Hogg, the Labour councillor for Latchmere ward, tweeted his congratulations to the Labour candidate Sally Warren: "Brilliant effort by Sally to get a 10% (corrected to 5%) swing in the safest Tory seat in Wandsworth. We fell short today but got a positive result by listening to local people on Brexit, school cuts and affordable housing. Bring on May 2018!"
Labour’s Thamesfield candidate, Sally Warren, said: “I’m of course disappointed not to have been elected, but this swing is encouraging and shows that traditional Tory voters are disillusioned and angry at the Government’s handling of Brexit and the Tory administration in the Town Hall".
November 9, 2017
