Farron beats Collins to Westmorland and Lonsdale seat (From The Westmorland Gazette)

Farron beats Collins to Westmorland and Lonsdale seat

5:22am Friday 6th May 2005

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LIBERAL Democrat Tim Farron has beaten the former Conservative MP and shadow education secretary Tim Collins this morning in a historic result for the honour of representing Westmorland and Lonsdale.

After a tense recount, the tiny 267 majority was announced shortly after 5am to gasps from the counters, among the supporters and members of the press gathered in Kendal leisure centre's main sports hall.

After the High Sherrif of Cumbria Adam Naylor, of Lowick, announced the result, Mr Farron, 34, who is married with three children, told the tired onlookers: "Thank you for coming up with the right result."

Mr Farron won 22,569 votes; Tim Collins 22,302; John Reardon (Labour) 3,796; Robert Gibson (United Kingdom Independence Party) 660; and Anthony Kemp (Independent) 309.

Turnout was high at 71.8 per cent of the 69,363 eligible voters, up from 68.07 per cent in 2001.

Mr Farron, who lives in Milnthorpe, said it was "a key result" which had come about because his party had delivered a message of "hope and progress".

Speaking to The Westmorland Gazette later, he said the main issue he would address during his time in Westminster would be affordable housing in South Lakeland.

He also identified sustainability, protecting post offices and "those other things that are the glue of our communities".

He added that Westminster would be work and Westmorland would be his home.

He promised: "It is absolutely vital that I remain rooted in the community I represent and I will do that from day one."

His wife, Rosie, credited his success to hard work: "He has been out from before 8am every morning and not home before 10pm every night for the last six weeks.

"We didn't really believe it was possible to shift this Tory majority."

Mr Farron admitted he had claimed "a big scalp" in taking the seat from a shadow minister.

The Conservatives had held the Westmorland and Lonsdale seat since 1910, and Mr Collins was wearing a tie coloured "Lonsdale yellow" to bring him luck after eight years in the post.

Lady Luck, however, deserted him on the night but he was magnanimous and dignified in defeat.

"I'm not exactly over the moon," Mr Collins said. "I'm surprised as well as disappointed."

He said the number of votes he polled had remained almost the same as in 2001, when he retained the seat with 22,486.

"It has been a real privilege to serve as your member of parliament. It is without doubt the most beautiful constituency in the country."

He said he had "not ruled in and not ruled out" the question of staying in politics but added: "I'm an optimist. I will think 'better times are around the corner'.

"I have no doubt the Conservatives in Westmorland and Lonsdale will bounce back."

In the meantime, with the birds singing a new dawn for Westmorland and Lonsdale, Mr Farron said he would now head home to help the children with their breakfast.

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