Liberal Democrats’ Immy Blackburn-Horgan wins Cambridge City Council by-election in Queen Edith’s
The Liberal Democrats have won the Cambridge City Council in Queen Edith’s by 67 votes (3.1 per cent).
Imogene Blackburn-Horgan, known as Immy, secured the seat vacated by the resignation of Independent councillor Sam Davies.
There was a turnout of 32.3 per cent, with Cllr Blackburn-Horgan receiving 745 votes, while Labour’s Thomas Ron came second with 678 votes.
Conservative David Carmona received 454 votes, while the Green Party’s Oliver Fisher secured 252.
Cllr Blackburn-Horgan now represents the Queen Edith’s ward alongside fellow Liberal Democrat city councillors Daniel Lee and Karen Young, while Liberal Democrat Alex Beckett represents the Queen Edith’s division on the county council.
Cllr Cheney Payne, who is also the Liberal Democrats’ Parliamentary candidate for Cambridge, described her as “already a huge force for good in her community and now across Cambridge too” and said the Cambridge Liberal Democrats were “so thrilled” she was joining them.
Ms Davies, who had represented the ward since her election in May 2021, announced last month that she was stepping down with immediate effect due to a family decision to move away from Cambridge, adding it had been a “great privilege” to serve people in the Queen Edith’s ward.
Following the announcement of the by-election results, Ms Davies congratulated the winning candidate. She said: “I wish Immy all the very best for her term of office. Congratulations to all the candidates for a well-fought campaign.”
The Liberal Democrats now have 11 seats on the city council, which remains firmly in the control of the Labour party, which has 25. The result is a blow to the ruling party, however, which also lost the last by-election, when Conservative Delowar Hossain won the party’s first seat on the council, beating Labour’s Zarina Anwar by just 24 votes in a victory propelled by the debate over a Cambridge congestion charge.
Cllr Pippa Heylings, a Liberal Democrat district councillor and the party’s Parliamentary candidate in South Cambridgeshire, said: “The result in the Queen Edith’s by-election is not only a win for Cambridge Liberal Democrats but also a win for the local community.
“Newly-elected councillor Immy is a wonderful example of a Liberal Democrat community champion working for local people all year round. The General Election will soon be upon us and, in South Cambridgeshire, it's a two-horse race between the Liberal Democrats and the Conservatives. Only Liberal Democrats can win here and secure the change that people want.
“Immy Blackburn-Horgan already has a strong record working for her local community and will be able to do even more for residents as part of a full slate of Liberal Democrat councillors in the Queen Edith’s ward in both city and county councils.
“Queen Edith’s is also a large and important ward in the Parliamentary constituency of South Cambridgeshire. It has been such a pleasure talking to residents on the doorsteps about Immy, knowing how well they would be represented. Local people are also very focussed on the upcoming General Election. I have spoken to many lifelong Conservatives in Queen Edith’s who say ‘never again. I’ve also spoken to voters who usually support other parties and they tell me they will use their vote strategically and support me as the best placed candidate to beat the Conservatives in South Cambridgeshire.
“My commiserations to all the other candidates in the by-election and I wish former Independent councillor Sam Davies and her family all the best in her new home.”
Queen Edith’s by-election result
Imogene Blackburn-Horgan, Liberal Democrat – 745, ELECTED
David Carmona, Conservative – 454
Oliver Edward Fisher, Green Party – 252
Thomas Ron, Labour Party – 678
New make-up of Cambridge City Council:
Labour – 25 councillors
Liberal Democrats – 11 councillors
Green Party – four councillors
Conservative – one councillor
Independent – one councillor
