St Ives’ results were announced midday on Friday. No surprises that Andrew George remained in his seat, dispite the Conservative efforts to take this constituency. The results were: 1. Andrew George Lib Dem 25,413; 2. Joanna Richardson Conservative 15,360; 3. William Morris Labour 6,567; 4. Mick Faulkner UKIP 1,926. The Isles of Scilly have voted to keep their member for parliament for a second term following major sucesses in his first four years. Andrew George was re-elected as the Member of Parliament for St. Ives and West Penwith and increased his majority at the expense of the Conservatives. The seat in which the Islands lie, once a Tory outpost, is now becoming a symbol of the Liberal Democrat strongholdings that have emerged from all over the coutry following a good General Election for Charles Kenedy’s party. The Liberal democrats nationally took seven more constituencies and held on to previous wins, most notably that of Torbay which they won in 1997 with a majority of just 12. Andrew George’s majority is now up to 20%, 3.6% up on last year. Andrew George has worked hard for the Islands, securing much needed tourism funding and helping to gain objective one. He visits the Islands regularly for his surgeries on each Islands and also takes his holidays on St Agnes. The other candidates, Joanna Richardson for the Conservatives and William Morris for the Labour Party failed to indent his lead despite extensive and expensive advertising campaigns. The Conservatives have failed to re-take any seats in Cornwall. The UK Independence Party managed to secure just under 2000 votes altogether. The national trend of a low turnout was repeated in the constituency but it was significantly higher in the Islands due toproximity of polling stations. The people who kept an eye on Ballot Boxes were in for a long day on the off-Islands though. They had to stay there from 7:00am until 10:00pm even though the entire Island were known to have voted by late afternoon. Local Island results were delayed. Peter Cliffton, the Advisory Teacher for the Council, informed us of the recount. As he left the Town Hall at 4:15 pm he commented: “Apparently it’s a close vote - exciting stuff.” Intended to come out before 3 pm, the results were eventually sorted and counted by 5:00 pm. The results for St Mary’s and Bryher were as follows (all the other islands were uncontested): St Mary’s: 1. HR Duncan 647; 2. G Bilsborough 617; 3. D Mumford 600; 4. JP Greenlaw 519; 5. JM Day 508; 6. M Hicks 499; 7. JD May 479; 8. GW Twynham 459; 9. RH Banfield 452; 10. SJ Whomersley 375; 11. GM Roydes Cleveland 370; 12. JM Barson 341; 13. FJ Ticehurst 336; (14. DF Miligan 294). Bryher: 1. Christopher Paul Hopkins 51; 2. Kathleen Marian Bennett 42; (3. Graham Thomas Shone 17). The most recent Council Chairman, Mr Dudley Mumford, is expected to continue in the top position, despite being third-most voted-for. Favourite, Mr Roy Duncan, has been on the Council for around 30 years now. He has been Council chairman and the most voted-for on several occasions. Bryher-resident Mr Ticehurst changed from standing for Bryher to St Mary’s this year. Nearly every time an off-island candidate has stood for St Mary’s, they have been successful. Mr Miligan, ranked last in the St Mary’s election is a Mainlander who has moved to the Islands. Uncontested seats… Tresco: SW Brint; AL Oyler. St Agnes: JS Hicks; EM Peacock. St Martin’s: JJ Goddard; CS Savill.
