Conservatives hold Merton and Wandsworth GLA seat (From Wandsworth Guardian)

Conservatives hold Merton and Wandsworth GLA seat

2:33pm Friday 4th May 2012 in News By Omar Oakes

Richard Tracey will continue to represent Merton and Wandsworth at City Hall after retaining his London Assembly seat.

Mr Tracey, who has held the seat since 2000, defeated Wandsworth councillor Leonie Cooper for the second time in one of the closest results in this year's London elections.

Merton and Wandsworth was a key electoral division targeted by the Labour party, who hoped their local election successes elsewhere would help them get a majority on the London Assembly.

London's mayor, Boris Johnson, was backed by Merton and Wandsworth voters by an even bigger margin after he secured 50 per cent of the vote.

His Labour rival and former mayor, Ken Livingstone, only polled 34 per cent after a strong showing in Merton was not repeated in Wandsworth.

Merton and Wandsworth was the first of the 14 electoral divisions to declare its final result, while London-wide results are expected this evening.

Another 11 assembly members are selected by proportional representation from the London-wide vote.

The 25 members of the London Assembly perform a scrutiny role in City Hall by holding the mayor to account and through work on committees.

Mr Tracey, who was a minister in Margaret Thatcher's Government in the 1980s, is the only former MP (so far) to be elected on the London Assembley, having represented Surbiton until 1997.

Results:

• Richard Tracey (Conservative): 43 per cent (65,197);
• Leonie Cooper (Labour): 37 per cent (55,216);
• Lisa Smart (Liberal Democrats): 8 per cent (11,904);
• Roy Vickery (Green): 8 per cent (11,307);
• Mazhar Manzoor (UKIP): 2 per cent;
• Thamilini Kulendran (Independent): 2 per cent (2424);
• James Martin (Socialist): 1 per cent (1343).

How Merton and Wandsworth voted for London's Mayor (first preferences)

• Boris Johnson (Conservative): 50 per cent;
• Ken Livingstone (Labour): 34 per cent;
• Siobhan Benita (Independent): 5 per cent;
• Jenny Jones (Green): 4 per cent;
• Brian Paddick (Liberal Democrats): 4 per cent;
• Lawrence Webb (UKIP): 1 per cent;
• Carlos Cortiglia (BNP): 1 per cent.