Shahrar Ali speaks at declaration for Brent Central on morning of Friday 7 May 2010 and televised in part (photo by Rob Dyke):"I'd like to thank the 668 voters of Brent Central for putting their faith in me and the Green Party at this fiercely contested election. I also wish to thank my campaign team, and especially Alex for expriencing some of the sleep deprivation with me."
"Finally, Green voters, stick with us! We will be back for more. More Brighton Pavillions up and down the country alike . . . in the very near future. Because true politics requires nothing less!"
Brent Central candidates (l-r): Shahrar Ali, Sarah Teather (Lib Dem, elected), Abdi Duale (Respect), Dawn Butler (Labour), Dean McCastree (Ind), Sachin Rajput (Con), Errol Williams (Christian, not pictured).
This picture shows the declaration for Brent North which took place just before Brent Central. Martin is standing on the left with thousands of ballot papers piled on the table in the foreground (photo by S Ali).Martin Francis polled 725 (1.4%) in Brent North (missing fourth place by 9 votes), Shahrar Ali polled 668 (1.5%, 4th) in Brent Central and Beatrix Campbell polled 759 (1.4%, 4th) in Hampstead and Kilburn. Barry Gardiner (Labour), Sarah Teather (Lib Dem) and Glenda Jackson (Labour) were duly elected, in their respective contests.
In the Council elections, the Greens stood maximum numbers in 20 wards and many of our candidates clocked up 300, 400, 500 or even 600+ votes in their wards. Labour made significant gains at the expense of both Lib Dems in the south and Tories in the north of the borough.
Notable acheivements in the borough elections include:
Alexandra Freed (Queens Park): 691 (2 Labour, 1 Lib Dem elected)
Lia Colaccico (Mapesbury): 660
Beverley Finlay (Kensal Green): 653 (beating 2 Conservative)
John McCooke (Kilburn): 840
Thomas Harrison (Willesden Green): 454 (beating 2 Conservative)
and in the north of the borough, in the wards of the parliamentary candidates:
Shahrar Ali (Welsh Harp): 430
Martin Francis (Barnhill): 421
Once it became known that the BNP were standing in Fryent, our candidates for that and neighbouring wards countersigned a statement and we put out an additional leaflet (coordinated by Martin) in order to beat them, too.
The formidable Council election counting operation was completed at around midnight on Friday, more than 24 hours after the ballot closed. The full General election and Council results for Brent are posted on the Council website here.
Shahrar and Martin were interviewed at the count by the Wembley Observer 'Brent election results now exepcted at 8am'. Other good press hits in Brent Times 'Battle for the Green Vote' on polling day and on eve of election 'War in Afghanistan still fires up public'. First thoughts and round-up from Martin. Some pictures and captions from the count by Rob Dyke.
Green results from around the country. Caroline Lucas our first Green Member of Parliament.
