A Salford Liberal Democrat councillor is toasting an election victory - after winning ANOTHER council seat more than 100 miles away.
Chris Twells represents Ordsall on Salford council, winning his seat in the Greater Manchester city last May. His name curiously appeared on the ballot paper in the Cotswold District Council election.
Questions were raised by the mayor of Salford Paul Dennett when his candidature for the Tetbury with Upton ward came to light. At the time, a Lib Dem colleague said he was ‘a paper candidate’ that ‘will not win’.
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Coun Alex Warren, leader of the Lib Dems in Salford said: “His name is on the ballot paper as a paper candidacy because the Lib Dems were struggling to fill their slate. He will not win.
“If Paul [Dennett] doesn’t understand that it’s a technicality, and perfectly legal, that’s his problem. As far as I am concerned this is much ado about nothing.
“Chris still lives in Salford and is still carrying out casework for local residents. He put a lot of work in and deserved to win his seat in Ordsall."
It was confirmed this morning (May 4) that Mr Twells had, in fact, won the Cotswolds seat. He secured 267 votes - or 38 per cent of the vote.
The nearest challenger was Conservative Peter Coleman, who received 207 votes, or 29 percent. Across the entirety of the Cotswold District Council, the Liberal Democrats took 22 seats, with the Tories winning nine.
Nationally, the Lib Dems saw some notable successes, such as extending their lead on Labour in Hull, and taking the Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Council off the Tories.
The Manchester Evening News has contacted Coun Twells for comment.
Chris Twells has been contacted for comment.
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