Labour win landslide victory in Gospel Oak by-election as Maeve McCormack retains seat

Emma Youle , News editor Friday, March 15, 2013
10:35 AM

Labour has won a landslide victory in the Gospel Oak by-election as Maeve McCormack was voted in as councillor yesterday.

The 26-year-old beat off competition from Conservative candidate Leila Roy, winning 1,272 votes to the Tory contender’s 419, to retain the seat for Labour.

The Green Party also crept into third place above the Liberal Democrats, as Green candidate Constantine Buhayer polled 134 votes - two more than Liberal Democrat Laura Noel’s 132.

The by-election was called last month following the resignation of former Camden environment boss, Cllr Sean Birch.

Ms McCormack, from Broadhurst Gardens in Swiss Cottage, pledged to secure the future of schools in Gospel Oak during her election campaign.

She hopes to help continue the success of Camden’s schools and is already playing an active role as a governor at St Dominic’s Primary School in Southampton Road.

After graduating with a degree in law and a masters degree in human rights from Nottingham University, Ms McCormack moved to Camden in 2008 and took up a role with a national charity, specialising in health and social care.

Gospel Oak by-election results:

Maeve McCormack (Labour): 1,272

Leila Roy (Conservative): 419

Constantine Buhayer (Green): 134

Laura Noel (Liberal Democrats): 132

John Reid (Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition): 109

Stephen Reid Dorman (British National Party): 57

Turnout: 27.16 per cent