Winning in Great Aycliffe

The Liberal Democrats won decisively in yesterday's Byerley Park, Horndale, and Cobblers Hall by-election for Great Aycliffe Town Council, defeating Reform UK in a 2-horse race and returning a strong local voice to the council.

The result saw Richard Burchell elected as a new Liberal Democrat councillor with 427 votes (59%), compared to 292 votes for the Reform Party candidate.

The newest Lib Dem town councillor, Richard Burchell, said:

"We’ve consistently seen a lack of interest in our town from the Reform Party, and during this campaign they showed little understanding of the real issues facing residents. People in Aycliffe are smart enough to see through that. They want action on issues like anti-social behaviour and fly-tipping, not slogans and scapegoating.”

Michael Stead, the Lib Dem County Councillor representing Aycliffe North & Middridge, said:

“This is a clear result and a strong message from the people of Newton Aycliffe: Residents know local elections here are a 2-horse race between Liberal Democrat local champions and the chaos, division, and Trump-style politics of the Reform Party."