Tories leak votes as Plumber Atwood fails to stem the tide.

The Liberal Democrats have won the Pembury by-election called after a Conservative councillor resigned over the treatment meted out to Roy Bullock.

The result: Lib Dem 578, Conservative 460,  UKIP 297. Turnout 35.41%

The Conservative candidate has contested three seats in 10 months and failed each time.  As I have pondered in a previous post, I wonder where he will turn up next?

The anti- Bullock forces and the new Council Leader have failed to staunch the flow of support away from the Tories in Tunbridge Wells.  The Tories have not been helped by the fact that Roy Bullock was an excellent agent who knew how to win elections: now he is gone.

I imagine the Conservative Association's AGM later today will be a sombre affair as the penny drops that Plumber Atwood is not the solution to the party's woes.

Had this election been held using the Alternative Vote I think the Tories would have won as it is likely UKIP votes would have gone to the Tories.