Thank You - message from Sheffield Liberal Democrat Group Leader

3.41.29pm BST (GMT +0100) Fri 12th May 2006

Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader of the Liberal Democrat Group on Sheffield City Council

Sheffield Liberal Democrats would like to thank everyone who voted in the local elections on 4th May this year. Although Labour remain in control of the council, their administration is now hanging by a thread. Our share of the vote increased, whilst Labour saw a fall in support. The Tories in Sheffield also went backwards in terms of share of the vote and they failed to pickup any extra seats as they had expected. The Liberal Democrats also gained the highest number of votes across Sheffield out of all the parties.

Although we where disappointed to lose one seat to the Greens in Central ward, we made significant progress in many other parts of Sheffield. It would have only taken another 50 votes in Gleadless Valley ward and another 215 votes in Hillsborough ward for us to gain these seats and then Labour would have lost control of the council. It really was that close! If the same trend is repeated in next year's elections then Labour will lose control of the council and there will be many more Lib Dem councillors.

We will be working all year round in the communities across Sheffield ensuring that your local Lib Dem teams are working on the real issues facing local people.

Once again, many thanks to all those who took the time to vote in the local elections.

Yours faithfully,

Cllr Paul Scriven, Leader of the Sheffield Liberal Democrats.