Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council election, 2004

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Elections to Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council in June 2004 heralded a shock result as Labour council leader Sir Bill Taylor lost his seat to Liberal Democrat Zamir Khan. "This morning as I was shaving I thought I could get beat and that is what happened", commented Taylor after the result. "I canvassed more for this election than for any other. I spoke to more than a thousand people on their doorsteps and was not given any suggestion there were any difficulties." Liberal Democrat leader Paul Browne blamed the defeat on dissatisfaction with British foreign policy, particularly in areas with high numbers of Muslim voters: "Sir Bill has gone because of what has happened in Iraq. Simple." Only 63 of the 64 seats on the council were filled as the Earcroft ward by-election took place a month after due to the death of Mayor Mike Barratt. [1] Yusuf Sidat was elected as an independent in Queen's Park Ward.

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council

Blackburn with Darwen Borough Council is the local authority of Blackburn with Darwen. It is a unitary authority, having the powers of a non-metropolitan county and district council combined.

The Labour Party is a centre-left political party in the United Kingdom which has been described as an alliance of social democrats, democratic socialists and trade unionists. The party's platform emphasises greater state intervention, social justice and strengthening workers' rights.

Sir Bill Taylor is the former leader of Blackburn with Darwen Council in England and election agent for Blackburn MP and former Justice Minister Jack Straw from 1979 to 2010. He was Mayor of the Borough of Blackburn from 1989–90 and was knighted in 2003 for services to local government. From its creation in the late 1990s, Blackburn with Darwen was Council of the Year twice. He was approached to assume the role of Chair of 3rd Sector Lancashire to coordinate Lancashire's 4,500+ voluntary groups. From 2009 till 2013 he chaired the Blackburn with Darwen ground breaking NHS Care Trust Plus.

Contents

Election result

Summary of the 10 June 2004 local election results for Blackburn with Darwen Council

e    d  
PartiesSeatsPreviousNet
Gain/Loss
Labour 3335-2
Conservative 1715+2
Liberal Democrat 128+4
Independent 12-1
Total6360

Source:

Wards

Corporation Park

Elected

Electorate 4617 Ballot Papers 2781 % Poll 60.23

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References