LABOUR has won the Wormholt and White City by-election with a overwhelming 67 per cent of the vote.
Winning candidate Max Schmid, a 29-year-old environmental charity worker from Parsons Green, pledged after his victory to continue the fight to save Hammersmith hospital’s A&E.
He won 1,419 votes ahead of Conservative Jamie McKittrick in second place with 251 votes. Liberal Democrat Chris Whittaker was third with 209 and UKIP’s Andrew Elston fourth with 122, while independent Jeffrey Boateng edged out in front of Andrew Donald of the British National Party with 75 to 45 votes.
The by-election to Hammersmith and Fulham Council was triggered by the death of Labour incumbant Jean Campbell in November.
Mr Schmid said this morning: "I’m really pleased with the win. I’m glad we got that level of support. We built our campaign around the campaign to save Hammersmith hospital’s A&E which shows a strong message about how local people feel about their local hospital."
A few hours before the result came in at midnight, Hammersmith and Fulham Council announced that Charing Cross hospital could be virtually saved from closure with a £90million investment to rebuild the hospital and retain a slimmer 24-hour A&E. No plans were mentioned to save Hammersmith hospital which is also facing closure by NHS North West London.
Mr Schmid responded: "I’m disappointed that the reduction in services at Charing Cross was packaged as some sort of success and I’m upset nothing is being done by the council to save Hammersmith hospital. I will try to make as public as possible the fears of local people who could lose their health service.”
The new Labour councillor said he is also determined to fulfil another key pledge to increase provision of affordable and social housing. Turnout was 24.77 per cent and 27 ballot papers were rejected.
