Cllr Patrick Smith

Winnie & Brian Paddick Mayoral candidate on the election trail.

WINNIE SMITH recaptured the third Leyton Ward council seat last night in a spectacular Valentine’s Day victory.

SMITH LIB DEM  1360

Lab                       695

Respect                176

Con                       108

Grn                         90

Back in the run up to the 2006 elections, Labour’s Miranda Grell ran a smear campaign, describing our candidate as a paedophile and told electors he had sex with teenage boys.

 In September the courts convicted Grell of making false statements, imposed a £1000 fine, £3000 costs and barred her from council office.

Surprisingly, the Labour party then agreed to put up £30,000 to fund an appeal but at the last minute they backed away.

The appeal was lost, with the judge commenting that Grell’s evidence was “contrived and not honest” and that she “has let herself down and everyone in her community.” 

Last night’s resounding win for Winnie Smith shows what the voters think of this shameful episode.Winnie will be a real asset to the party and to the good people of Leyton.

Labour’s vote was cut to 29% and David Cameron’s Tories were left trailing in fourth place, only beating the Green by 18 votes.

Congratulations to the team in Leyton, especially Bob, Jenny and Henry, and also to the many people who went to help in person or on the phones.