Liberal Democrat candidate Sarah Redrup took a sizable victory in the Wootton Bridge by-election overnight, restoring Lib Dem control of the seat for the first time since 1998.
Sarah secured 475 votes from local residents, a majority of 184 over the Conservative’s Ed Hopper. Linda Pitcher received 178 votes and the Green’s ‘paper candidate’, Michael Smith, just 48.
Turnover was down on the previous election by 4.61%, with only 994 people casting a vote against the eligible number of 2,830 – a turnout of 35.12%. 369 of the votes were postal votes. It was the 1st Isle of Wight Council election which required residents to produce photo ID to vote.
The win at the polls makes 29-year-old Sarah one of the youngest members of the Isle of Wight Council and the 1st Lib Dem to hold Wootton in 25 years, since Maureen Stolworthy. Sarah’s father, Ray Redrup, is a Conservative councillor for Newport West and was elected in May 2021.
Sarah, who was born in Essex, is a local businesswoman who runs Grace’s Bakery with her family and when not working she enjoys Island heritage and volunteering at the Isle of Wight Steam Railway.
The Wootton Bridge vacancy was forced by the resignation of Daryll Pitcher in July earlier this year. The former Vectis Party leader was jailed in April for historic child sex abuses but remained as an Isle of Wight councillor for a further 3 months. His mother, Linda, was vying to replace him in this week’s by-election.
Since the turn of the millennium, the Wootton Bridge seat has been held by either Barry Abraham or Daryll Pitcher so this week’s win is massive for the local Lib Dem party. It is the 2nd Isle of Wight Council by-election the Liberal Democrats have won in 9 months, after Councillor Nick Stuart took control of Brighstone, Calbourne and Shalfleet in November last year.
Sarah will now join her 3 fellow Lib Dem councillors at County Hall, making the group of 4 the joint 3rd largest on the local authority.
In her speech, Sarah thanked the people of Wootton for voting for her, despite being a ‘newbie’ to the game.
Congratulations Sarah and the lib-dems.
Fantastic result
So relieved to keep the scheming CONservatives out.
Couldn’t agree more.
As a former lifelong Tory voter all I can say is WHAT A GREAT RESULT.
Always interesting how many people have not voted and why,it shows how few actually cast a vote
May also be down to the ID proof issue.
Well done. You deserve it all the hard work you’ve put in x
Thank goodness it wasn’t the Tory who mislead residents about him living / not living in the village. Can’t trust Tories at national level. Can’t trust them at local level. Very well done to Sarah!
Wow, so many good comments here. I guess the Tories have turned coats or hiding under a rock. Well done lib dems. But I fear our corrupt system will stop you making any head way. Will vote for them next time, Labour and Tories are now just on the same team.
Disagree about the corrupt sentiment. If Sarah stands by her principles she and the party will be respected more by the general public and that at times can add a lot of weight to a persons efforts.
This needs to carry on at the next General election too! Get those CONservative liars out of control and give another party a chance.
Well done Sarah, and let’s hope you can now fulfill some of your campaign pledges.
Her father Ray Redrup is a Mason. Say no more …
That is not her choice or her fault , she certainly is NOT a Mason. I hope she does well in her role and works hard for residents of Wootton.
Obviously, she is not a mason because it is a men only secret society. However, the funny handshake vote should not be underestimated on the island. I find it disgusting that a secret society with ridiculous occult rituals should still wield so much power in modern society. People who belong to secret societies should not be allowed to hold public office (including councils, but especially in the police force).
Is the tin foil hat a bit tight today Jimmy?
Snug as a bug in a rug but a bit busy. Just got to roll up my trouser legs, bare my chest, and practice muttering some ludicrous oaths to the Grand Geometrician. Then a quick sherry and sort out some contracts with my buddies in the lodge. Maybe have a word with a senior police officer about a speeding ticket too. All above board of course.
There is a womens masonic lodge in Sandown so she might be.
You can apply to join here if you are eligible.
https://www.owf.org.uk/about-us/locations/
Frankly all councellors are a waste of time. They just do whatever the Council tells them to do.
The Councillors ARE the Council, so your comment makes no sense whatsoever.
Nic is correct. The councillors just try to get in the way of whatever the council plans to do. Councillors have endless pointless debates about nothing while the council gets on with squandering our council tax on nonsense.
Congratulations Sarah you deserve to win , your determination and hard work proved a success for your acheivment , all trust has now gone with conservatives and this result shows it ,we need young blood to fight for Wootton Bridge ,
BE STRONG Dear Girl, and stick to your principles. Show those Dinasours how it’s done!
Hope she’s clear on what a woman is unlike her party who have taken large donations from puberty blocking pharmaceutical company