First Green councillor elected on St Edmundsbury Borough Council

17 November 2012

Green Party leader Natalie Bennett has congratulated Julia Wakelam, who today became the first Green councillor to be elected to St Edmundsbury Borough Council in the Risbygate ward in north and central Bury St Edmunds. She replaces the Conservative councillor who resigned.

Julia campaigned against over-development of housing around the town and won by a massive 51%, beating the votes of the combined Labour and Conservative opposition.

She will give a great boost to St Edmundsbury Green Party. Risbygate ward makes up part of the county council constituency, which is held by her fellow Green Mark Ereira-Guyer.

Following very hard-fought campaigns, the Green Party came a strong second in two other Suffolk by-elections.

In Beccles the Labour Party was defending a seat and was pushed into third place. Green candidate Nicky Elliott finished second but the Conservative candidate, currently the town's mayor, was elected.

In Stowmarket North, Green Party candidate Linda Baxter finished second to the Conservatives, who won based on a low turnout.

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