Greens clinch city council by-election

THE Green Party claimed its third council seat in Newcastle, as Labour’s vote collapsed in the South Jesmond by-election.

- DANIEL HOLLAND Local Democracy Reporter

Thursday's election, triggered following the resignation of Labour's Milo Barnett, was close, with Green candidate Sarah Peters winning by a margin of just 55 votes ahead of Liberal Democrat Jude Browne. Labour was pushed into a distant third place in an area that had previously been relatively safe ground for the city’s ruling party.

Defeat in South Jesmond marks the latest blow for Labour, which lost its majority in the council chamber last year and now runs a minority administration. Attention now turns to a hugely important set of local elections next May, when every one of the council's 78 seats will be contested - rather than the usual one-third. Those ‘all out’ elections have the potential to radically reshape the balance of power in Newcastle and set the political direction of the city for years to come.