Conservative candidate Robert Courts makes a speech after winning the Witney by election at The Windrush Leisure Centre in Witney. Photo: Chris Radburn/PA Wire
WITNEY has a new Conservative MP following a by-election although his majority was heavily slashed.
Robert Courts was elected with 45 per cent of the vote, compared to the 60 per cent that David Cameron previously had.
Mr Courts got 17,313 votes beating his closest challenger Elizabeth Leffman of Liberal Democrat who gained 11,611 votes.
The Liberal Democrat share of the vote rose markedly, from 7 per cent to 30 per cent pushing Labour into third.
Duncan Enright of the Labour Party won just 5765 votes in comparison, just under 15 per cent.
The turnout was 46.78 per cent and 38 votes were rejected.
The election took place at The Windrush Leisure Centre in Witney on Friday (October 21).
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