Maggie Kelly is selected as the Labour candidate for the Shoeburyness by-election

PRESS RELEASE

Maggie Kelly has been selected to be the Labour candidate in the forthcoming Shoeburyness by-election.

Maggie works for the National Health Service and is a member of the Unison trade union. She lives with her family in Shoeburyness.

Maggie said: “I am delighted to have been chosen again to contest the ward that I live in. I love Shoeburyness, and will work tirelessly for my community if elected.”

Maggie added, “I have been an active campaigner for the party for many years and I am involved in community activities.”

Maggie Kelly has been the Labour candidate in Shoeburyness in the last three elections.

Voters go to the polls on May 25th, just two weeks before the General Election. Unfortunately the Council is powerless to move the date so that the two elections coincide.

Shoeburyness

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