Liberal Democrat council candidate James Rideout almost doubled the party's vote in the Harlow Common by-election on Thursday 12 June.

The Liberal Democrat vote rose from just 234 last year, to 419 on Thursday. The Liberal Democrats also saw the largest increase in their share of the vote - up 9%, while the Conservatives increased their share by just 3% and Labour collapsed by a massive 14%. Local Liberal Democrat leader Cllr Chris Millington says:

"This is a terrific achievement for our young candidate James Rideout. It is further evidence that the Liberal Democrats are emerging as the real opposition to the Conservatives on Harlow Council, while support for Labour is continuing to evaporate."