The four candidates - winner Gwen Grahl (Lab) second from right) and Brent Council chief executive Carolyn Downs (Photo: Adam Shaw) Labour held onto the third seat in a tightly contested ward to maintain its 55-councillor majority in Brent. Gwen Grahl was elected to represent Brondesbury Park after securing 1,871 votes in yesterday’s (Thursday, May 6) by-election. She beat her nearest competitor – Conservative candidate Sapna Chadha – by 644 votes. Green Party candidate Sheila Simpson collected 469 ballots, while the Liberal Democrats’ Philip Alexander received 448. Ms Grahl joins Labour councillors Tony Ethapemi and Erica Gbajumo in serving Brondesbury Park, and it means Labour now have 59 councillors in Brent, with three Conservatives and one Liberal Democrat making up the opposition.
“I’m really honoured to be elected as a councillor in my community and I thank people for putting their trust in me,” she said.
“I’d like to thank all those who campaigned for me – this was a real grassroots effort, and this victory is for them.”
Cllr Muhammed Butt, leader of Brent Council, said the margin of victory, compared to that in 2018’s borough-wide local elections, shows his party have been working hard for residents in the area.
He said he was delighted to see Ms Grahl elected and believes she will be “a true voice for the community”.
One council seat is up for grabs A new Brent councillor will be chosen this week as people across the country head to the polls in national, regional, and local elections. Residents in Brondesbury Park will vote in a third councillor in their ward following the resignation of Kieron Gill earlier this year. The by-election takes place tomorrow (Thursday, May 6), with the result expected to be announced a day later following a count at Alexandra Palace. Four candidates are on the ballot – Philip Alexander (Liberal Democrats), Sapna Chadha (Conservative Party), Gwen Grahl (Labour Party), and Sheila Simpson (Green Party). Ms Grahl, who said she will stand up for local residents, believes there needs to be greater scrutiny on the potential privatisation of health clinics.
New BBC Beechgrove star Calum Clunie from Fife thanks his grandparents for his gardening bug roots
Michael Alexander speaks to young Fife gardener and Levenmouth Academy School of Rugby co-ordinator
Calum Clunie who has been recruited as the newest member of the BBC Scotland Beechgrove team.
Beechgroveviewers are no strangers to seeing a Fifer on their screens with St Andrews-raised Scone Palace head gardener
Brian Cunningham– who is also The Courier’s
Ginger Gairdner columnist – making regular appearances alongside fellow presenters
But the newest face to join the BBC Scotland gardening programme’s team –
Calum Clunie – is also from the kingdom and is himself set to become a weel-kent Beechgrove star.
Brondesbury Park May 6 by-election candidates speak kilburntimes.co.uk - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from kilburntimes.co.uk Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.