Camden election results 2018: Belsize Conservative Leila Roy loses seat while Lib Dems win two places
Leila Roy, who has lost her seat after four years. Picture: Polly Hancock - Credit: Archant
There were scenes of disbelief at Camden Town Hall today as a recount for the local election saw Conservative councillor Leila Roy lose her Belsize seat.
Ms Roy, who was first elected in 2014, has been a vocal critic of the council’s ruling Labour group over the Chalcots Estate evacuation last year.
It had been thought that Labour may have been the ones to win the ward from Tory hands, but one of the shocks of election night has seen the Lib Dems treble their number of councillors.
Tom Simon, a tenants and residents association member on the Chalcots Estate, topped the bill. He had previously served as a councillor for the ward between 2009 and 2014.
Elected alongside him are Luisa Porritt, who joined the party after the EU Referendum in 2016, and Tory Steve Adams.
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Ms Roy tweeted: “It has been an honour & a privileged representing #belsize the last 4 years. [...] I put my heart and soul in helping residents especially during the #chalcots evacuation.”
Speaking to the Ham&High this afternoon she added she “wanted to see the works in the Chalcots Estate through to the end”.
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She said: “I spent three to four days a week working on this. My son is disappointed [at me] not being re-elected. But as a single mum I’m happy I will redirect my investment onto him for the next four years – and manage to have more dinners with him!”
During her time as councillor, she said, she recognised the large European population in the area.
“I don’t hold a British passport,” she explained. “I am proud to be holding a French passport and working in the council listening and catering to the needs of the wider community.”
Asked why she thought she had lost her seat, she said it wasn’t a judgement of her record but a “judgement on national policy”.
She said she was grateful for all the messages of support she’s received since the result, and wished “all the best for everyone elected”.
