The Seagulls Party took almost a quarter of all votes cast in the Ouse Valley & Ringmer ward by-election last Thursday.

In the downland villages in the ward, where the party claimed over 40% of the total vote, Ed Bassford, the Seagulls Party candidate took more votes than any of his rivals from the three mainstream political parties.

This impressive first election showing from a party launched so recently not only confirms the credibility of the Seagulls Party but also demonstrates that they will be a force to be reckoned with in the May 2007 local elections.

Ed Bassford with Tory Candidate Paul Gander

Bassford said, "At the start of the campaign we were dismissed by the other parties as an irrelevance. They genuinely expected us to get hardly any votes at all but at the count we could see just how rattled the Lib Dems and Tories were as our votes piled up!

"I've lived in this ward for over thirty years and it's a very long time since it hasn't been represented by a Lib Dem councillor. So it's no surprise locally that they won. A major factor that played in the Lib Dems' favour is that the biggest issue in the ward is the Newhaven incinerator.

"This is seen as a project of the Conservative County Council and the Lib Dems have built a reputation over the past few years as the main party that is opposing it. So I'm not surprised at their victory. Lib Dem support in South Heighton was particularly strong and they fought the election there on that issue.

"We have demonstrated that we are a genuine force in local politics and I'm proud to have been able to hold up the flag for Seagulls everywhere. I'd also like to thank the many people who have worked so hard during the campaign."

The full election result: Edward Bassford (Seagulls Party) - 359. Paul Eric Gander, (Conservative)- 521. Peter Frederick Gardiner (Liberal Democrat) - 715. Trevor Hugh Hopper, (Labour) - 41. The turnout was 33.41%.