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Monday, May 10, 2010
News

Turner keeps Island seat

By County Press reporter - Friday, May 7, 2010
ANDREW Turner has retained his Island seat for a third term with a majority of 10,527.
Mr Turner received 32,810 votes, 93 more than in the 2005 poll, while Lib Dem Jill Wareham polled 22,283.
Mr Turner said he was privileged to win and pledged to continue fighting for the people of the Isle of Wight.
He said his priorties for the Isle of Wight would now be to fight for the NHS and cheaper ferry fares.
Mr Turner also thanked Labour candidate Mark Chiverton for supporting him while he was ill, following a stroke in 2006, and said: "Politics on the Island is different from politics on the mainland."
Mr Turner said he hoped the Conservatives would win a majority nationally.
"I don't think a hung parliament will work. I hope we win a clear majority," he said.
Mr Turner admitted he had been worried his vote would be affected by unpopular budget decisions made by the Tory-run Isle of Wight Council.
"I thought it may have damaged my position but people have been able to tell the difference between council matters and government matters," he said.
Jill Wareham
Jill Wareham
After reducing the Conservative majority by around 2,000 votes, Lib Dem candidate Jill Wareham said she thought things had gone well for the party on the Island.
"I think a lot of first time voters on the Island have voted for us. What we really want to see nationally is proportional representation.
"I think this could still be a big night for the party so I will be staying up to see what happens," said Mrs Wareham.
She praised the efforts of counting staff for the efficiency of the count.
Mark Chiverton
Mark Chiverton
Mark Chiverton, who suffered a drop of around 3,000 votes compared with his 2005 performance, said tactical voting may have cost him.
"I was disappointed that the number of votes was down on last year, but in percentage terms it was less than the decline in Labour vote in many other areas.
"I think it showed that we were not particularly helped by some national leaders saying tactical voting would be helpful.
"The party needs to regroup nationally and listen to its core support.
"Locally I think we fought a vigorous campaign and we could not have done any more."
The Island turnout was 64.02 per cent, an increase on 62 per cent in 2005.
Returning officer, Isle of Wight high sheriff Peter Kingston, also announced there had been 112 rejected ballot papers. 

FULL ISLAND RESULTS:
Candidate Party Votes
Andrew Turner Conservative 32,810
Jill Wareham Libreal Democrat 22,283
Mark Chiverton Labour 8,163
Mike Tarrant UKIP 2,435
Geoff Clynch BNP 1,457
Ian Dunsire English Democrats 1,233
Bob Keats Green Party 931
Paul St John Martin Middle England Party 616
Peter Harris Independent 175
Paul Randall-Jolliffe Independent 89
Edward Corby Independent 66
 Turnout 64.02 per cent.

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