Curiously
enough, since 1998 there have been six council by-elections in Southend-on-Sea,
two in Chalkwell, the others in Shoebury (one in West Shoebury). There has been
no date set for the by-election to replace Mike Assenheim, but it will happen
soon enough.
Labour last won
here in 2001 when all-up elections meant that three were elected. Anne Chalk
came third, and therefore was elected, only to then have to resign two months
later when it was discovered that she was ineligible. This was our only victory
on the current boundaries. Labour won Shoebury ward in 1996 on the old
boundaries (when the borough was made up of only 13 wards, as opposed to the
current 17).
This ward can
be won by Labour, in spite of a recent record that has seen our vote share
declining. We have to accept that our campaigning here has not been good enough
in recent years, something that we should put right in the upcoming
by-election.
Labour's performance
|
|
Labour candidate
|
position
|
votes
|
%
|
|
2001
|
Anne Chalk
George
Saville
Linda Cook
|
3rd
5th
6th
|
1485
1264
1148
|
39.3
40.2
44.8
|
|
2001 (Jul)
|
George
Saville
|
2nd
|
400
|
38.4
|
|
2002
|
Anne Chalk
|
3rd
|
479
|
26.7
|
|
2003
|
Anne Chalk
|
2nd
|
472
|
33.0
|
|
2004
|
Anne Chalk
|
2nd
|
561
|
26.5
|
|
2006
|
Anne Chalk
Charles
Willis
|
3rd
5th
|
707
438
|
26.8
29.8
|
|
2007
|
Anne Chalk
|
3rd
|
481
|
20.5
|
|
2007 (Sep)
|
Anne Chalk
|
3rd
|
460
|
23.5
|
|
2008
|
Chris Gasper
|
3rd
|
250
|
11.3
|
|
2010
|
Chris Gasper
|
3rd
|
579
|
12.5
|
|
2011
|
Chris Gasper
|
3rd
|
328
|
12.0
|
|
2012
|
Chris Gasper
|
3rd
|
271
|
12.8
|
|
2014
|
Maggie Kelly
|
3rd
|
404
|
15.3
|
|
2015
|
Maggie Kelly
|
3rd
|
929
|
18.1
|
|
2016
|
Maggie Kelly
|
5th
|
236
|
9.4
|
