Shirley by-election: Lib Dems win fifth seat on Southampton Council

The former seat of Labour MP, Satvir Kaur turned yellow on Thursday night when Cllr George Percival was elected with a 479-seat majority. 

The result means that Labour is reduced to 35 councillors while the Conservative opposition has ten, Green has one and the Liberal Democrats now hold five. 

Cllr Percival received 1,249 votes with Labour's Victoria Ugwoeme, with 764 votes, pipped to second placed by Conservative Andrew Hetherton, on 770. 

Independent candidate Andrew Pope received 117 votes, Green candidate Barrie Margetts received 241 and Trade Unionist and Socialist Coalition candidate Maggie Fricker received 44.

READ MORE: Shirley by-election: Live results from Southampton Civic Centre

Cllr Percival, who works as a firefighter at St Mary's fire station, said the result is down to "three years of hard graft". 

He added: "We’re only a small team, it was a David and Goliath battle.

"We’ve managed to take Labour in their strongest seat in the city. The sitting MP for the city, this was her place.

"I have had people from Basingstoke, Eastleigh, Romsey, everywhere coming over maybe just giving an hour of their time to deliver some leaflets.

"That is because we all believe in the same cause, we’re all fed up with the two-party system at times and the way the voting system is." 

The count floor at Southampton Civic Centre (Image: NQ)

The Shirley by-election was called following Satvir Kaur MP's resignation in August.

Council leader and Labour councillor, Lorna Fielker said the vote came at a time when people want to see 'rapid change' from the government.

"We’re really disappointed not to have got Victoria elected today but it is really clear by the votes that there’s more going on here than just what’s happening locally within the city.

"We know that the Labour government inherited a really difficult situation three months ago and they’re working through that at the moment.

"I remain firmly committed to ensuring that as a council we are financially stable and able to deliver those services that all residents deserve.

"At the same time, I am looking to ensure that this city grows in a way that benefits every individual so that people are able to get better jobs and have got more money in their pockets.

"I remain really focussed on that and the residents of Southampton will judge us on that come May 2026 when we’re next up for election."

There were 13 votes rejected during the count with a turnout of 31.3 per cent.

Southampton Civic Centre (Image: NQ)

Cllr Percival thanked Shirley residents for voting for him, adding that they had the choice of "some excellent candidates". 

He added: "I commend them all for sticking their heads above the parapet.

"Not every door you knock on everybody greets you with a smile, it can be slammed back in your face. It doesn’t matter what colour badge you’re wearing.

"Every Liberal Democrat candidate has to go and fight to have their voice heard, they have to say that we’re an alternative and what it does is produce a councillor that is extremely resilient.

"Every single councillor that is sat currently has lost three or four times and people appreciate somebody that, to quote Chumbawamba, ‘get knocked down, get back up again’."

The new councillor will serve the remaining term created by the vacancy until May 2027.