The battle in Stamford Hill saw the Tories’ Mr Lisser secure 1,456 votes, against Sales’ 1,192. Turnout in the ward was the highest of the four by-elections at 46 per cent, with 2,943 votes cast in total. Johnny Dixon for the Greens came third with 189 votes, while the Lib Dem’s Anthony Harms came last with 59.
Mr Lisser did not attend the count, where there was a brief battle of wills between Conservative councillor Simche Steinberger, who attempted to accept the vote on Mr Lisser’s behalf, and returning officer and council chief executive Tim Shields, who blocked him from speaking from the dais as he was neither a candidate nor an agent.
Tony Harms, Liberal Democrat
Liberal Democrat Tony Harms, has lived in Hackney for 34 years. For 20 years he ran a Hackney based Adoption Support Agency and is currently the Secretary of a Mental Health Charity.
- Credit: Tony Harms
Harms, who ran a local adoption support agency for 20 years and is the secretary of a mental health charity, has promised if elected to give residents “a real say in the running of their ward,” being of the belief that power should be in the hands of “local people who really understand the challenges.”
The Lib Dem candidate was secretary of the Stoke Newington conservation area advisory committee, sits on a patient and public involvement committee in the local health network, and is former vice-chair of the Lordship safer neighbourhood forum.