The 2016 Election for Knowsley Council is finally over. It has been a long election period for the Knowsley Labour Party and for myself on a personal level as the Local Campaign Forum Secretary. From the changes to ward boundaries, selection of panel candidates and the campaign itself. The long slog is over and, short of by-elections and the Euro vote on June 23rd, there are no more elections in Knowsley for two more years.
I want to thank the voters in the Halewood South ward for my election victory last Thursday. I will be proud to serve this new ward over the next two years with my Labour colleagues, Edna Finneran and Tina Harris. Congratulations also to Alan Flute, Shelley Powell and Terry Powell who were elected to represent the new Halewood North Ward. On their behalf we also thank the Labour Party members and activists for their support with the campaign over the past few months.
Full details of the results can be found below:
Halewood South Ward – Click Here
Halewood North Ward – Click Here
We received a great response on the doorstep and it was an enjoyable experience working alongside such great people. Congratulations also to all of the candidates who stood for election in Knowsley this week. Democracy is a wonderful thing, but it only becomes possible when good people take the brave step of putting their neck on the line and become a candidate.
All wards in Knowsley were contested this week, all of the victors competed hard for their success, but that only becomes possible when you have to work hard on getting your message over to voters.
Labour were not successful in every Knowsley ward last week. The Liberal Democrats took all three seats in the Prescot North Ward. I congratulate them on their success and look forward to working with them to help get the best deal for Knowsley residents over the next few years. But I must also use this blog to acknowledge how much we will miss our Labour colleagues Lynn O’Keeffe, Bill Weightman, and Mike Kearns who lost out on Thursday. I hope it’s not too long before they are standing for election again and can re-join us in the Council chamber.
My reflection on three great Labour colleagues:
Lynn – is a valued colleague, whose dedication and commitment is second to none. Her passion for her community is unquestionable, which is why she is well respected for her proactive approach to achieving so many positive things. I can say with absolute confidence my success is related to Lynn and her courageous efforts to win for us all. I will particularly miss her generosity and aptitude.
Bill – was a Cabinet colleague of mine and was a mentor to me as a new Councillor in 2010 and in my role with the Cabinet. His direction provided a clear pathway to follow, ensuring that I understood in a short amount of time the moving parts of the council. I will particularly miss his wisdom and guidance.
Mike – was often the voice you would hear first, being confident to speak out against topics he believed went against our values as a socialist party. I will particularly miss his confidence and passion.
I will write to you again in the coming weeks with news on the make-up of the new Cabinet in Knowsley, city-region developments and the European Election campaign. But I look forward to having a few evenings to myself next week and spending time with family and friends. Thank-you for reading my blog and, if you did, for giving me your vote last Thursday.
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