Taxi Driver Online

Wycombe: Cabbie boss on road to election success
By staff reporter
Comment
A CAB firm boss has scooped the Greater Hughenden seat for Conservatives after winning the by-election on Thursday.

Larry Haig, 50, beat off opposition from Lib-Dem candidate William Barnes to take the latest available seat on Wycombe District Council.

Mr Haig, who owns a small taxi firm, scooped 1,040 votes - from a massive 65 per cent of those who turned up.

But the Lib Dems still said their popularity shot up at the vote from previous years to around 35 per cent.

Mr Haig, a father-of-two, of The Common, Great Kingshill, said: "It builds on the recent success of Great Missenden so we were very pleased.

"We were quietly confident, but it was the result of a lot of hard work. I think in essence it builds on the efforts of the existing councillors. It is a three seat ward and it is a huge ward."

Mr Haig's victory sees him join fellow Greater Hughenden Tory councillors, David Carroll and Richard Pushman, at the district council. The ward covers the areas of Naphill, Great Kingshill, Hughenden Valley and Widmer End.

The turnout was 24.26 per cent from the 6,579 electorate. The seat became vacant after Independent, Cllr Alan Fulford, stepped down earlier this year.

Mr Haig, who also works in sales and marketing consultancy, is a former deputy chairman for the Wycombe Conservatives where he was responsible for fundraising and membership.

This was the first time however that he chose to stand as a councillor.

He said: "Hopefully I will do my best to represent people with their issues.

"We want to retain the area of Oustanding Natural Beauty and the semi-rural feel of the area."

Meanwhile, on a website statement the Lib Dems insisted it had been a successful night despite the clear loss.

The statement said: "The last time the seat was fought in 2003 the Liberal Democrats polled under 15 per cent of the vote. This election saw a rise to 34.55 per cent."

It added: "With grateful thanks to all our supporters who helped make this credible result possible and to our excellent candidate William Barnes."




Another step closer to a Tory government.

youve already got one!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

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The views expressed by this contributor do not neccesarily reflect the policys of The GMB Nationally or of the GMB London Region.